District of Squamish is planning to install 12 small covered structures in different neighborhoods.
The structure would include a picnic table with various seating designs. The design is expected to be similar to the picnic shelters recently installed in Whistler, according to a staff report to council that was presented on February 22.
The District will spend $150,000 for 12 covered structures in 2022, and hopes to install them in August. The plan was discussed at a Committee of the Whole meeting in February, where council directed staff to explore the installation of these structures.
“The structures in Squamish will help activate existing public spaces and parks, while also providing sheltered seating areas for all season use,” says district staff.
Once the design and cost is confirmed, district staff will engage community groups on design and locations. Groups such as the Squamish Downtown Business Improvement Association (BIA), Squamish Youth Council, Seniors groups, SORCA, Smoke Bluffs Committee, Tourism Squamish, and other neighbourhood community groups will be consulted.
District staff were guided in this decision by a public survey by Our Squamish Placemaking Society which underscored the need for such covered seating structures. In response to the 2021 summer heatwave, several community members also approached the district to request shade coverage for playground areas, in particular Eaglewind Park, the report notes.
However, staff also note that covered structures can sometimes become gathering places for less desirable uses, and some of the budget will also towards maintenance and monitoring to encourage respectful use of these structures.
“The installation of covered shelters may support vandalism and undesired behaviour and may require additional staff time from RCMP, Bylaw and Parks Operations to discourage undesired behavior or clean up from undesirable behaviour. Through engagement work, staff will be engaging internally as well as externally with relevant community groups and neighbourhood groups to help mitigate these concerns at the design, location and operation phase,” the report notes.
