A look at Golden’s goals

The Town of Golden has infrastructure improvements beautification on the agenda

New directional sign in Golden — Photo courtesy Town of Golden

The town of Golden is undergoing some changes in the future. Highway 1 will be getting some special attention, and the community may have noticed new signs popping up all over the town. Golden has also received confirmation that the Golden Kicking Horse River Diking Project (also known as Bridge to Bridge) has finally been approved for up to $2.24 million in federal and provincial funding.

Primarily, this means flood-control improvements to bring the dike up to the 200-year flood level. Not only will this protect the historic downtown, but the community will have the opportunity to enhance tourist and pedestrian amenities, improve a key part of the community and remove the utility poles, moving them underground.

“Continuing the beautification undertaken three years ago in the adjacent Spirit Square will attract many more tourists off Highway 1 and encourage adjoining businesses to turn their frontages around to face the Kicking Horse River,” said David Allen, Golden's chief administrative officer. “The improved riverside amenities and flood protection will also draw more locals, add value to commercial properties and bolster business revenues.”

Allen said that at the end of the day, and in keeping with the democratic process, the town of Golden electors will decide if they wish to proceed with the project.

Jon Wilsgard, manager of corporate services with the Town of Golden, said that the liveability of a community is determined in part by its ability to create a sense of place and harmonized surroundings.

He said that with the recent improvements to other areas of town—including the Spirit Square, enhanced signage, a green gym and campground improvements—it was time for the Trans-Canada Highway area to get some attention.

“The only work to date has been solidifying the need for visual and community informational improvements in the Highway 1 corridor and have that approved in our five-year plan under the Resort Municipality Initiative,” said Wilsgard.

He said options such as a treed meridian, informational kiosks, green spaces or pedestrian thoroughfares connecting to the town will all need to be contemplated and contextualized—and ultimately there will be a budget to adhere to.

“As in all projects it will provide a more accommodating look and feel to an area of Golden which is intended to draw the attention, curiosity and commitment of travellers to visit Golden again and again,” said Wilsgard.