By Steve Hubrecht
Invermere’s downtown pedestrian-only area has proved a hit so far.
Back in spring, Invermere council gave the green light to an idea from the Invermere Business Committee (IBC) to close a short, half-block section of 12th Street, adjacent to the cenotaph plaza to create a summer-long pedestrian-only area in Invermere’s downtown core.
The idea of a pedestrian-only main street in Invermere, similar to the one in Banff, has been cropping up in official and unofficial discussions on and off for the past decade. But any time those discussions seemed even faintly serious, controversy then erupted, with a significant number of main street business owners upset that such a move would negatively affect their bottom line.
This past winter the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey, which found that although Invermere residents in general were strongly in favour of a pedestrian-only main street, opinions on the topic were still sharply divided — and evenly split — among business owners.
In spring the IBC came up with an alternate, compromise proposal to close the section of 12th Street between the post office and main street, creating a pedestrian-only area that was right next to main street, but not actually blocking main street. Invermere council enthusiastically supported the measure, which became reality a few weeks ago in mid-June.
Picnic tables, umbrellas, and wooden lounge chairs have been set up; flower beds added; sidewalk chalk, lawn games and other fun activities left out for passersby to use; and a food truck has set up shop. Local Grade 6 and 7 students from J.A. Laird Elementary School added an unmissable artistic flourish to the spot, painting the concrete blocks delineating the area in bold and colourful designs.
J.A. Laird Elementary vice-principal Crystal Woodworth explained the district wanted the students to create something “happy and bright.” The students got in groups, chose designs they liked and then, during the process of painting “those designs morphed and developed,” said Woodworth. “They had a great time . . . it was busy when we were there, and community members were asking questions and engaging with the kids. It was really lovely. It was a great opportunity for the students to make public art and I am really proud of what they did . . . it looks great.”
The spot has been popular with the public so far. The Pioneer has stopped by on several occasions, finding the area always in use by at least several people and sometimes quite busy.
“It’s been good. It’s definitely getting used. Every time I go, there’s people there,” said downtown business ION² Progression Suspension co-owner and IBC member Mylene Lefebvre. “People are there eating ice cream, or eating a meal they bought at one of the downtown restaurants, taking a break from shopping, or simply using it as a nice meeting spot while waiting for someone.”
Lefebvre has noticed quite a few people with dogs sitting at the picnic table, eating meals. “It’s great for people with dogs. If you have a dog, and you can’t take it into the restaurant, now you can get takeout and then enjoy your meal at the picnic tables,” she said. “The big lawn chairs are nice to hang out in. I’ve been down there myself a few times, sitting in the sun . . . it’s a nice touch.
She said the feedback she’s heard from the public has been overwhelmingly positive.
Invermere Mayor Al Miller has the same impression, telling the Pioneer that the 12th Street closure experiment has been a success.
“I think it’s been tremendous . . . it has been very well attended, even when weather was chilly there were still people there. Overall it’s a great addition to the downtown,” said Miller. He has spoken with people sitting in the area and “they were all really pleased with it . . . they felt it was very much a community-oriented thing.”
He noted that on Canada Day, the pedestrian area was particularly busy.
When the idea of closing 12th Street for the summer was first proposed, council received two letters from residents concerned it could be difficult to access the post office.
But care has been taken to leave plenty of space in front of the post office, and so far there have been no more complaints, said Miller, adding that, in fact, “all the feedback has been positive.”
The atmosphere created by the street closure is great for Invermere, said Miller. “Once you get people out of their vehicles, if you have a pedestrian-friendly area, people will move around and shop. It makes downtown Invermere an experience. That’s important and valuable.”
Visitors Margot and Gerry Hillman were sitting at a picnic table under an umbrella in the pedestrian-only area on July 5, and both found the new addition to downtown appealing.
“I like it. It’s colourful. It’s a great place to sit down and get out of the heat,” said Margot. “It’s a nice nook, tucked in the centre of town.
Gerry added: “It is inviting. I like the umbrellas, I like the food truck, and I like the painted (concrete) blocks. They are very pretty.”