WANTED: Fresh ideas to make Penticton even better

[nepal]

For the street creek construction: On top of the existing pavement, lay two parallel concrete curbs and cover with a rubber liner, then cover with rock and add water. This would be less costly than digging out the street and make it easier to to remove if it didn't work out. Some holes in pavement along side would be needed for trees and at street crossings. Use rocks large enough to not be moved by hand and cement in smaller rocks...

[twobits]

Some really great ideas. I would love to see some of them implimented but there are some hurdles to cross. I am truly not trying to be a negative nellie here but I think it is just as important to recognize some of the hurdles facing these ideas and find some solutions to them at the same time if there is to be any hope of fruition.

Closing main street....gastown.....market type place
-Would all property owners buy in and upgrade their buildings/facades? IMO, many "collect the rent owners". Incentives?
Who pays for them?
-Downtown is heavily service? Banks, lawyers, accountants etc? Do they want their clients to have to walk to them or will
they move elsewhere further reducing peoples need to go downtown at all?

Water feature down main street. Such a cool concept!!
-How do we get the Ministry of Environment on board to divert a creek?

Instead of Main St, close Lakeshore and create the market atmosphere there.
-The few residents frontingthe street would probably like it but how do you get the many motels and restaurants whose
only access is via Lakeshore on board?
-As pointed out by the poster......Parking??? Big issue. Can't expect the hotel to provide parking at the expense of patrons
-Convincing the general electorate. Think their views about changing lakeshore, particularily Clifford Martin, were
made quite clear. Maybe some kind of Venice beach hybrid for July and August only?

[Tero]

I would create a green belt along the channel by planting big trees all the way from Okanagan to Skaha Lake, to embellish it and hide the nothingness behind it while riding the 97.

Maybe maple tree could you imagine the colors at fall... or trees that blossom at spring time.

I have long thought that actually cleaning up and utilizing the channel could put the PIB on the map...
Clean it up. Put in beautiful paving stones. Build gorgeous new washrooms (flush, showers, etc) that are kept clean and stocked and orderly and closed at dusk for security. Plant dozens of trees. Build more entrances and exits into the actual channel for people to get in and out. Daily in July and August sell market space the entire lenghth of the channel for people to do as they will, be that busk, promote their business or service group, sell crafts and produce (like the famers market.) Have a few stages along the way for performances. Charge a nominal fee to float and provide FREE transportation from the end of the channel back to the start. Street fair extraordinaire with no disruption to current traffic! Safe to walk. Family friendly, party friendly, WELCOMING to all. Have lifeguards.

[French Castanut]

I have long thought that actually cleaning up and utilizing the channel could put the PIB on the map...
Clean it up. Put in beautiful paving stones. Build gorgeous new washrooms (flush, showers, etc) that are kept clean and stocked and orderly and closed at dusk for security. Plant dozens of trees. Build more entrances and exits into the actual channel for people to get in and out. Daily in July and August sell market space the entire lenghth of the channel for people to do as they will, be that busk, promote their business or service group, sell crafts and produce (like the famers market.) Have a few stages along the way for performances. Charge a nominal fee to float and provide FREE transportation from the end of the channel back to the start. Street fair extraordinaire with no disruption to current traffic! Safe to walk. Family friendly, party friendly, WELCOMING to all. Have lifeguards.

I can totally see it.. it would be awesome!

[Thinktank]

Penticton is one of the nicest small cities on earth, with two lakes, orchards
vineyards etc.

But we're far from everywhere and there's not that much money around ( we don't have a 5 million population san francisco within 50 miles)
so we should be just happy with the way things are, and paying for one big empty SOEC for the next century.

[French Castanut]

Thinktank, what you said is very interesting.

As a little but beautiful town, how can Penticton explain $1,000+ rent/month or $500,000+ houses. Because you're right, no big industries around. Where do people get the money to afford buying half million dollar houses. But that could be a different thread.

[fluffy]

The "small-town" quiet appeals to many, the retirement demographic in particular. Like some others here though, I believe a lot of the problems we face are tied to the slow economy. The downtown revitalization program is attempting to bring to life many of the ideas expressed here. Personally I think it's just a matter of time before things pick up and the money starts to flow again. It's nice to be able to say we need a fresh look on downtown, but like twobits said the property owners have to be on board and willing to put up the bucks, and that means a strong bottom line which isn't around at the moment for many. But it will be some day. There are already some exciting bits coming together.

[southy]

Folks ... this is a very POSITIVE THREAD and long overdue. Let's not derail it with reasons WHY something CAN't BE DONE .. that mentality has existed in this city for a long time. Let's move on. Thoughts and ideas can manifest into reality .. keep those great ideas coming. A couple examples of what coming together for the good of a community can do .. look at Oatman, Arizona for a one street, old nothing mining town in the middle of the desert they are doing an incredible job with tourism.
http://www.oatmangoldroad.org/ What about Leavenworth, Washington -
http://leavenworth.org/modules/pages/index.php?pageid=1 ... how about the Thursday night market and weekend streetfest in Palm Springs http://www.palmspringsvillagefest.com/. On a larger scale there is the Fremont Street Experience in Vegas
http://www.vegasexperience.com/ If we build it they will come. Remember our small Saturday market way back when? Did you see it this summer ... amazing and so full of even more potential.

Perhaps what the City of Penticton and the Downtown Penticton Association should do is hold a public meeting inviting those folks who would like to form a committee to gather all of these ideas and see what is feasable and cost friendly then move on it. A committee seperate from the City, Chamber, Tourism and DPA. Obviously there are going to be ideas that are simply cost prohibitive at THIS TIME, however, to get the ball moving is step one then who knows what can happen. I know I'd be more than willing to donate my time and energy to a committee like this. Time to get excited .. let's get those downtown merchants and more importantly property owners excited. Remember ... there are NO bad ideas .. keep 'em coming.

[Tero]

Folks ... this is a very POSITIVE THREAD and long overdue. Let's not derail it with reasons WHY something CAN't BE DONE .. that mentality has existed in this city for a long time. Let's move on. Thoughts and ideas can manifest into reality .. keep those great ideas coming. A couple examples of what coming together for the good of a community can do .. look at Oatman, Arizona for a one street, old nothing mining town in the middle of the desert they are doing an incredible job with tourism.
http://www.oatmangoldroad.org/ What about Leavenworth, Washington -
http://leavenworth.org/modules/pages/index.php?pageid=1 ... how about the Thursday night market and weekend streetfest in Palm Springs http://www.palmspringsvillagefest.com/. On a larger scale there is the Fremont Street Experience in Vegas
http://www.vegasexperience.com/ If we build it they will come. Remember our small Saturday market way back when? Did you see it this summer ... amazing and so full of even more potential.

Perhaps what the City of Penticton and the Downtown Penticton Association should do is hold a public meeting inviting those folks who would like to form a committee to gather all of these ideas and see what is feasable and cost friendly then move on it. A committee seperate from the City, Chamber, Tourism and DPA. Obviously there are going to be ideas that are simply cost prohibitive at THIS TIME, however, to get the ball moving is step one then who knows what can happen. I know I'd be more than willing to donate my time and energy to a committee like this. Time to get excited .. let's get those downtown merchants and more importantly property owners excited. Remember ... there are NO bad ideas .. keep 'em coming.

Hear hear I love the positive for my city.

I'm also partial to my channel idea... imagine the partnership with the PIB. The whole walkway covered in beautiful colorful sail to provide shade...

[Thinktank]

It would have been good to spend $millions and $millions of
dollars on the Okanagan Lake improvements - but instead Penticton
decided to just do the minimum - because there isn't too much extra money.

So why even worry about other big ideas? We're a poor city.

[Anonymous123]

It would have been good to spend $millions and $millions of
dollars on the Okanagan Lake improvements - but instead Penticton
decided to just do the minimum - because there isn't too much extra money.

So why even worry about other big ideas? We're a poor city.

Casinos will do that to a small City.

[Drip_Torch]

C'mon Drip_Torch, you know you waaanna!

Of course I want to...

I'm just holding back to see if there is any appetite to expedite implementation of the Munson Mountain Council courage zip line test.

Quickly, I'll say we're older than most communities in both Canada and BC. There is a bit of a population bump in the 15 to 19 year olds, but that bump will dissipate; as many of those set out to start their own lives.

Realistically, the demographic that many of you seem to think we need to attract, doesn't exist in the same way it did during the hay day.

Median age
2006 2011
Canada 39.5 40.6
British Columbia 40.8 41.9
Penticton 47.9 50.1

(Damn you castanet forums for undoing all that work I did on the table above)

As much as I like the idea of a Lakeshore Venice beach themed atmosphere - I just can't help but wonder if Speedo wearing 50.1 year olds might cause some unintended consequences.

I have a few ideas... not sure if this is the time, or the place to attempt to articulate them... and I'm kind of preoccupied with my favourite TV channel, which appears to be running episodes of the twilight zone with a laugh track.

Hmm,... I think I'm going to sit on the sidelines for a few days.

The thread is a good read... thanks for starting it.

[fluffy]

The Downtown Revitalization Committee does invite suggestions from the general public here:

http://www.penticton.ca/EN/main/community/vibrant-penticton/our-downtown.html

[Static]

Casinos will do that to a small City.

Sure, blame a job creating business. Of course attracting a demographic depenedent on government pensions is never an issue. Penticton is a prime example of what happens when a community caters to greyhairs. Sorry, sad but true.

[Tony]

The Downtown Revitalization Committee does invite suggestions from the general public here:

http://www.penticton.ca/EN/main/community/vibrant-penticton/our-downtown.html

How do we get them to look this thread over fluffy?