Nakusp has launched a master planning process to revitalize its treasured waterfront – and is seeking input from the community.
“Nakusp’s waterfront is central to our community – supporting recreation, relaxation, and connection to nature,” reads the Village’s website. “With increasing use each year, it’s time to plan for a sustainable and inclusive future.”
The waterfront master plan is a long-term planning document that will guide how the Village’s waterfront area can evolve over time. The Village’s goal is for the community to shape the plan, in order to reflect the unique character, needs, and aspirations of Nakusp and its visitors.
On May 22, the Village and consultants from Selkirk Planning and Navagrah Landscape Architecture & Urban Design hosted an open house to begin the public engagement process. Attendees could view displays of possibilities for the waterfront, and offer opinions and feedback on the ideas.
“We are here simply to listen and to bounce ideas off of,” said Yogeshwar Navagrah. “We are listening and gathering, then we’ll come up with the plan in consultation with the Village – a plan that gives Nakusp what it wants.”
Navagrah and Fraser Blythe (Selkirk) started work on the plan earlier this year – waterfront-goers may have noticed the orange X’s – and presented their observations and opportunities at the open house.
At its core, the plan hopes to bring cohesion and vibrancy to the waterfront. Ideas range from general repairs and updates to benches, walkways, and railings, all the way to saunas and kayak rentals. Accessibility improvements for washrooms and lake access are front of mind, as well as ways to connect the lakefront to the downtown core. The consultants proposed potential commercial amenities along the lake, which Navagrah said was met with mixed reviews.
Other potential additions include a garden wedding gazebo, a naturalized kids’ play area, sunset and picnic points, a vegetated greenwall, a waterfront event and performance space, and a fire pit zone.
It will take Navagrah and Blythe a few weeks to digest and synthesize the feedback before presenting the findings to council. By September, detailed concept plans, a costing list, and an implementation strategy will be ready, and another open house will be scheduled for more public input. Further refinement from there will culminate in a final waterfront master plan to be presented and adopted by council by the end of November, said Blythe.
The survey is open until June 5 and is available on the Village’s website, or paper copies at the Village office or Seniors Centre. For more information, email info@nakusp.com or call 250-265-3689.
