Grizzly Plaza Project Update

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LATEST NEWS - JULY 2023:

JULY 27, 2023

Those with dogs, small children, strollers, and wheelchairs know that our existing tree grates are scary. Small feet and wheels easily get caught between the bars, and allow garbage and debris to fall through, making them look less than attractive.


The community also loves the existing trees in the plaza, and wants more shade. The existing London Plane tree roots are affecting the paved surfaces, cracking concrete and creating an uneven walking surface.

We’ve designed more space for the existing tree roots, giving them more room to allow the trees to grow

LATEST NEWS - JULY 2023:

JULY 27, 2023

Those with dogs, small children, strollers, and wheelchairs know that our existing tree grates are scary. Small feet and wheels easily get caught between the bars, and allow garbage and debris to fall through, making them look less than attractive.


The community also loves the existing trees in the plaza, and wants more shade. The existing London Plane tree roots are affecting the paved surfaces, cracking concrete and creating an uneven walking surface.

We’ve designed more space for the existing tree roots, giving them more room to allow the trees to grow without damaging things further. We’re re-doing the tree wells and making surfaces smooth again, and adding in a new 6’x6’ tree grate. The Urban Accessories Chinook tree grates are compliant with ADA accessibility guidelines, and have small holes, meaning you’ll never lose another piece of popcorn down there. We’ve also made sure that our City’s snow removal equipment can drive on it without damaging it.

And we think they look great!

JULY 21, 2023


In order to make sure that everyone has access to the gazebo we are replacing the back set of stairs with a curved ramp. The ramp means that people with mobility issues can easily access the gazebo. The curved ramp follows the round shape of the gazebo, and will use a wrought-iron railing to replicate the existing railing.


What else will change?
  • Green post colour will be painted black to match the Community’s Wayfinding Strategy;
  • The railing on the front stairs will be replaced during construction;
  • A curved bench will be added to the backside of the ramp, adding more seating in the plaza;
  • We also understand that acoustic upgrades are needed to improve the sound quality of music during summer streetfest. We’ve identified $10,000 to study what acoustic upgrades would be needed to improve sound quality.
What is not changing?
  • Posts, railings, bricks, and stairs will not be replaced
  • The domed red canopy will stay as is

JULY 12, 2023

We are maintaining many of the original items in Grizzly Plaza. The planters, paving stones, trees, gazebo, benches, and bollards are all remaining. However, they may look a little different.

You will notice some of these items are getting a new coat of black paint. Why black? In 2021, City Council, Tourism Revelstoke, and the Chamber of Commerce all endorsed and approved a new wayfinding strategy throughout Revelstoke. The Wayfinding Strategy outlines a new colour scheme that includes Revelstoke’s “Industrial Red”, black and white. The colour scheme is identified as Revelstoke’s colours of the future, with green as the predominant colour in our urban areas no longer representative of the City’s vision.

The change to black will coordinate all new and existing elements with a single colour. Ordering new items in a custom green colour adds significant cost, meaning we’re spending more money, just on colour. Black is a standard offering from all companies and offers cost savings over ordering custom paint colour for new City furniture.

#cityofrevelstoke #grizzlyplazaupdate #comingthisfall


JULY 7, 2023

Will this impact the summer market?” “How will this work affect the Summer Streetfest?”

We know that you love the summer market, and summer streetfest and don’t want to see them impacted by work in Grizzly Plaza.

The work in Grizzly Plaza will not affect the Summer Market or the Summer Streetfest.

The work is planned for the Fall of 2023 after the Summer Market and Summer Streetfest have ended. The grant requires the work to be done by April 2024. Most of the work will be completed in the Fall of 2023 from October to mid-November, with furniture installation happening in the spring of 2024.

#cityofrevelstoke #grizzlyplazaupdate #comingthisfall


JULY 5, 2023

The City of Revelstoke received grant funding for $429,400 to complete upgrades in Grizzly Plaza. That process started in 2021 with a community survey, and we heard that the community doesn’t want to see major changes in the plaza. You would like to see improvements to make the plaza more inviting to use throughout the year, but don’t want to see major changes. There are also improvements needed to be made for maintenance, safety, and accessibility reasons. Some of the things you’ll see are:
• New streetlights to meet the City’s Dark Sky policy;
• More seating options for sitting and talking to friends, or sampling from our local food trucks; and
• Completing accessibility improvements to make the plaza safer and more comfortable for people with mobility issues.

The whole design has been guided by a steering committee made up of community members from areas such as: the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism, Heritage, Accessibility, Transportation, Cycling, Arts, Farmer’s Markets, Illuminate Revelstoke, Childcare Society, and Council. The committee has provided input throughout the process. As a result, the design has gone through several different iterations to make sure we get it right. Stay tuned over the coming days as we reveal more about what small changes are planned.

#cityofrevelstoke #grizzlyplazaupdate #comingthisfall

May 27, 2022

Join Mayor Gary Sulz and Councillor Nicole Cherlet as they discuss the Grizzly Plaza Enhancement Committee and Revelstoke’s iconic Grizzly Plaza.



News History

Council adopted the Grizzly Plaza Enhancement Committee Terms of Reference (ToR) on February 22, 2022 and appointed the following members:

  • Councillor Nicole Cherlet - Chair
  • Councillor Tim Palmer - Vice Chair
  • Miriam Manley - Arts Council
  • Stacey Brensrud - Chamber of Commerce
  • Cathy English - Heritage Commission
  • Melissa Hemphill - Local Food Initiative
  • Wayne Brown - Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market
  • Meghan Tabor - Tourism Revelstoke
  • Mark McKee - Illuminate Revelstoke Society
  • Kristi Dorwood - Revelstoke Childcare Society
  • Melissa Jameson - Citizen at large (with a focus on accessibility)

A report was presented to Council on February 8, 2022, to highlight the results of the community feedback and to establish next steps for the project. The community feedback showcased the positive presence of Grizzly Plaza and its ole in community life in downtown Revelstoke and that at this time there is not a desire for substantial changes.

At the February 8, 2022 meeting, Council passed the following resolution:

THAT a select committee of Council Grizzly Plaza Enhancement Committee be established to review and advise on the grizzly plaza project to review design guiding principles and engagement plan to develop a concept for the Grizzly Plaza throughout 2022.

THAT Councillor Cherlet and Councillor Palmer work with the Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture to develop a Terms of Reference for the Grizzly Plaza Enhancement Committee.

The next steps for the project is to develop a Terms of Reference for the Grizzly Plaza Enhancement Committee.

Project background

The City of Revelstoke applied for a grant under the Community Outdoor Revitalization Capital Grant program that closed on February 5, 2021. To apply for the grant, a report was prepared by staff for Council’s consideration on January 26, 2021, which outlined the grant application and identified that the funding for this project would be covered by 75% from the CBT grant and 25% from the RCFC Legacy fund. The grant application process required a capital cost budget, which was based upon example projects provided by consultants to develop a capital cost budget. In this report, staff identified that a community engagement process was required to hear what the Community wishes for the future of the bandstand and surrounding area. On April 6, 2021, CBT awarded the city a grant for $322,050. No decisions have been or will be made, about the future or design of the bandstand or plaza until we have heard from the public.

Community engagement is the first step to collect thoughts about the values and vision for the bandstand and plaza, and ideas about potential uses, functionality, materials, and design.

This is an exciting opportunity for the community to collectively use its imagination to conceptualize the bandstand and the plaza while recognizing significant cultural features and the community’s historical significance about this important space.

About the project

The project is being funded by a grant from the Columbia Basin Trust Community Outdoor Revitalization Capital Grant program.

A Steering Committee is being formed to provide support and advice on community engagement and any steps that are recommended following community input. Representatives have been invited from the Advisory Planning Commission, Tourism Revelstoke, Arts Council, Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Commission, Farm, and Craft Market, Heritage Advisory Commission, Illuminate Spirit Revelstoke Society, LFI Farmers’ Market, and the Public Art Committee.

Photos courtesy of Tourism Revelstoke

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Grizzly Plaza Questionnaire

    Grizzly Plaza is the heart of Revelstoke’s Historic Downtown

    Community engagement will be a key process for collecting thoughts about values and vision for the bandstand and plaza, and ideas about uses, functionality, materials, and design. This is an exciting opportunity for the community to collectively use its imagination to conceptualize the bandstand and the plaza while recognizing significant cultural features and the community’s historical significance about this important space.

    This questionnaire is designed to collect the community’s ideas to understand what the community values about Grizzly Plaza and collect ideas about its future.

    Please submit your responses before October 18, 2021.

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Page last updated: 28 Jul 2023, 10:35 AM