Squamish officials found themselves between a boulder and a hard place on Tuesday (June 10).
Municipal staff came forward with an update on the much-anticipated proposed climbing boulder to be placed in downtown’s O’Siyam Pavilion Park. The project was highlighted as a “quick win” in last year’s Downtown Transformation Initiative, district planner Sarah McJannet said. But after having no luck finding corporate sponsors to pin their name to the initiative, the idea ground to a standstill.
A standard multi-level boulder costs up to $40,000. Last year, $85,000 was allocated to downtown transformation projects. Of that amount $30,130 was pulled forward to 2014 to pay for more picnic tables and upgrades to the municipality’s newly acquired Lot 1, beside the Mamquam Blind Channel.
“The cost of the boulder wasn’t included with downtown’s quick wins,” McJannet noted.
Council agreed that the project was a priority and a part of the community’s 100-year celebrations of Squamish’s renaming. Mayor Rob Kirkham made a motion calling for the boulder, which can take up to 12 weeks to manufacture and install, be paid for through the district’s surplus funds. He added staff can continue to explore sponsorship options.
Council unanimously backed his recommendation.
Coun. Doug Race and Susan Chapelle suggested that the boulder should be covered to allow for year-round use.
“A lot of climbers hang out downtown when the weather is not great,” Chapelle said, adding the climbing community would likely help fundraise for a roof.
Kirkham agreed, adding that component could be viewed as a second stage of the project.
