Public Realm Improvement Fund included in City of Kamloops supplemental budget items to be approved

KAMLOOPS — Downtown Kamloops is set to get a series of minor upgrades, after Kamloops council approved a request to create a Public Realm Improvement Fund.

The public spaces fund will see $250,000 taken each year from the gaming reserves for a five-year period. The idea is to spend that money on items that will improve the look, safety and functionality of the downtown area.

Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association Executive Director Howie Reimer says there’s a variety of ways the fund can be utilized.

“Urban furniture, benches, which we’ve had a lot of requests for, safety and decorative lighting. Also we want to expand just beyond Victoria Street with the Kamloops Centre for the Arts coming down the pike here. We want to spread the love into Seymour Street, down to Lansdowne and other areas of the city,” he notes.

The KCBIA says this Public Realm Improvement Fund will be similar to the existing system used by the North Shore Business Improvement Association. The organization says it will gather input from downtown businesses and residents to get an idea of what items should be first on its to-do list.

“Off the top of my head, certainly the banners really are in need of replacement, as is our seasonal lighting, some safety lighting and also we’ve had numerous request for benches so we’ll be looking into that, as well,” adds Reimer.