City of North Vancouver Councillor Don Bell wants more benches in the city for people to sit and rest, or perhaps even use it as a way to meet and chat with a friend outside.
It would get more people out and foster community while contributing to the city’s goal of being a more walkable community, he said.
“More benches to sit and interact with friends and people in the community will contribute to the council aim of having a more connected and vibrant city,” he said.
Bell recently brought forward a notice of motion for more pedestrian benches in the city. The council has directed staff to review possible locations for additional covered and uncovered pedestrian benches along Lonsdale Avenue, the Green Necklace and other areas such as the Spirit Trail.
The staff will look at a phasing program for the new benches. Don Bell said that during the last elections, several of his constituents, especially seniors, had expressed the need for more benches in the city.
They were especially concerned, Bell said, with lack of benches on hilly streets like Lonsdale Avenue. It was a barrier in discouraging more people, including seniors and persons with physical disabilities, from adding to the city’s goal of being a more walkable community, he added.
“Many people have mentioned this to me, especially in regard to Lonsdale Avenue, but I think we could use more benches along the Spirit Trail and the Green Necklace,” he said.
“It would be nice to have more opportunities take a break and sit down and relax for a few minutes or just simply use it as an opportunity to sit down and chat with a friend,” he said.
Bell said that while this issue had been raised previously during the elections, it was also recently raised by the Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society.
He also said the staff could consider an option to encourage sponsorship of some benches by local businesses or individuals to make the project more viable.
Bell is hopeful the staff would come back with options with the city budget process that would be underway soon.
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