City of Courtenay Annual Report 2022

PUBLIC WORKS 4th Street Parklet

New EV Charging Station in Downtown Courtenay Courtenay’s vibrant downtown core just got even more electric, thanks to a new dual-head Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging station installed in December at the corner of 6th Street and England Avenue in Downtown Courtenay. The station is strategically located near shops, restaurants, and services, and operated from from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with site parking up to two hours. Other charging stations were installed in early 2023 at the Lewis Centre and City Hall. In 2023 access to all EV charging stations operated by the City have been updated to 24 hours a day, 7 days per week with a $3/ hour fee. Funding for these EV charging stations was provided by the Province of BC and Government of Canada through a successful joint local and regional government funding application with 11 other mid-Vancouver Island jurisdictions. Learn more: courtenay.ca/ev

Downtown Courtenay now has a new gathering spot, with the completion of a multifunctional and adaptable “parklet” on 4th Street next to the Courtenay & District Museum. The project was made possible thanks to $45,320 in grant funding from the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) and Tourism Vancouver Island. This new outdoor area can host a range of activities and events, including farmer and artisan markets, surrounded by attractive post-and-beam modular seating spaces. Large heritage photo panels that used to adorn 5th and England have been repurposed at this new location. The new parklet is a short distance away from the Native Sons Hall, Sid Williams Theatre, Florence Filberg Centre, and other cultural and community facilities, as well as many locally-owned downtown shops, restaurants, businesses, plus parks, trails, and the Puntledge and Courtenay rivers. The parklet was built using innovative and sustainable elements including four shaded seating cubes and a wheelchair-accessible picnic table. Site furnishings and planters are constructed utilizing recycled waste plastic and metals. As the Courtenay & District Historical Society holds a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Courtenay for proposed museum expansion at this location in the future, the parklet materials could be dismantled and repurposed elsewhere if needs change. The 4th Street Parklet was inspired by the Downtown Courtenay Playbook adopted in 2016 following consultation with the public, businesses, and other community partners. Feedback gathered through this process identified a need for more public open spaces in the downtown core. For more information visit courtenay.ca/parklets

4th Street Parklet

City of Courtenay | 2022 Annual Report

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