The Arrow Lakes News reported back in July that the now dark paved waterfront walkway path might become more than just a daytime location. The local chapter of Rotary International invited the team from Artistic Lighting Design to visit Nakusp with a demonstration for the waterfront walkway in order to make it usable after sunset. Award- winning lighting experts Jordy Olsoff and Candace Weimer travelled to Nakusp from Kelowna to create an experience for stakeholders, media and interested parties to sample what might be possible here. The idea was to get a sense of what the walkway could look like, what it would cost and how to maintain it once the lighting had been installed.
United States-based President of Rotary International Gary Huang chose the theme, “Light Up Rotary” for 2014-15 and the local Nakusp chapter is taking this literally. Rotary members Mayumi van der Pol and her husband Kees were able to present their project idea to council on September 8 with support from other members in attendance.
Van der Pol’s PowerPoint presentation included many slides of mock-ups for lighting along the stairs and the paved section of the walkway that is not currently lit by streetlights.
Mayumi spoke to those in attendance,
“We want this to be tastefully done, and all of the lighting is subtle. If the lights are used a total of three hours per day, electricity will cost between $15 and $20 for an entire year.” This is based on the state of the art LED lighting.
Once the sun goes down behind Saddleback Mountain and darkness falls, almost nobody is able to enjoy the paved section of waterfront which stretches from the Marina to the public beach due to complete darkness. Having lighting along this path could see more users enjoying it during the hours of darkness while it remains lit for three hours. This could provide cyclists, runners, families and others wishing to enjoy an evening stroll with the safety to do so year-round.
Rotary’s local chapter is keen to obtain the funds for installation and will gift the entire setup to the Village. However hydro, upgrades and maintenance would then become their responsibility.
Council questioned van der Pol about the lower-seated lighting and how it would impact snow removal, as well as whether the addition of light would invite vandalism or graffiti to existing artwork and structures, citing that if they are in darkness, they are less likely to be defaced. She stated that she would get additional information from the providers and report back.
The council voted in favour of the ongoing project in principle, awaiting further information and details.