Things along Nakusp’s waterfront walkway are looking a lot brighter at night thanks to the Nakusp Rotary Club.
Over the last two years Rotary has been working toward creating a better lighting situation along the walkway. While there are streetlights along the waterfront they’re spaced very far apart and a resident soon finds themselves walking in areas that are pitch black.
Now there are 145 sealed, low voltage LED light fixtures along the walkway. Most of the lights are along the railing, but there are some in the pergolas and up trees as well.
Many residents are thoroughly impressed with the new lights.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Karen Hamling, mayor of Nakusp. “I think it’s a great contribution from the Rotary club for our waterfront, and it will be there for many more years to enjoy.”
Hamling was one of about 50 people in attendance at the lighting ceremony on Dec. 17. To officially usher in the new lights, Dan Nicholson, president of the Nakusp Rotary Club, along with Rotary member Lori Lounsbury, gave Hamling the Gift of Light, a small fabric bag filled with glowing orbs.
There was much oohing and aahing as the lights came on for the first time.
While many are excited the new lights have finally been installed, the project almost didn’t happen.
About halfway through it was discovered the cost of the project was going to double from the original estimate because three kiosks instead of one would be needed to supply the electricity to the lights.
“I was so discouraged for a little while, but then I thought ‘Well, we came this far,’ so we started applying for grants again,” said Rotary member Mayumi van der Pol. “Now it’s finally happened, and I can’t believe it.”
Many organizations and businesses helped make the project happen, including Columbia Basin Trust, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, BC Hydro, the Artistic Lighting and Design Company, and more.
Rotary also helped by putting about $6,500 into the project.
Along with being a project residents of Nakusp can enjoy, Artistic Lighting and Design, the company which designed and installed the lights, will be submitting the project to the Association of Lighting Professionals, for an international award.
