The next step towards downtown Swift Current construction came Monday night at City Council when the 2020 Downtown Master Plan Paving Stone Construction Contract was approved.

This contract notes their next move for the City of Swift Current’s plans for the downtown area as outlined in a 2018 roadmap for renovations at the heart of the City.

City of Swift Current General Manager of Infrastructure and Operations, Mitch Minken, outlined their plans for 2020.

“The work plan for 2020 is to continue revitalizing the west side of the 100 block of 1st Avenue Northeast. This will complete this block with a modern downtown design.”

“The Rempel Plaza portion of the Centennial Market district will also undergo a revitalization to enhance the already lively Market Square in accordance with the Centennial Market district design.”

The interior and sidewalks of Frank Rempel Centennial Plaza will be refurbished in a style of stones the City has used in the past. Some of the stones will be patterned in a different way to indicate the Centennial Market district’s individuality.

The contract for the mentioned work was given to Done Right Contracting for the price of $143,828 including PST and excluding GST. They were given the bid as they were one of the three companies that responded to the City’s request for proposal.

That company has previously been awarded downtown paving stone projects. Minken added that they have done a fast, safe, and attractive job with their previous works.

City Councillor Bruce Deg indicated that he was excited to see the work the contractors are scheduled to complete in their latest contract.

“I agree, it’s of very high quality and it certainly looks nice and should last a long time, so I’ll certainly be in favour of this motion.”

In a press conference following the meeting, Minken adds that they aren’t sure when they’ll be finished with the larger project of placing paving stones in the downtown area.

“These are the early stages of it where we’re trying to establish the standard and the pattern and invest as we can. Down the road, we may have to invest a little larger to get it done a little quicker.”

The planning for the remainder of the downtown area's paving projects hasn’t been developed yet.

City of Swift Current Director of Business Development, Marty Salberg, gave an insight into the Downtown Master Plan.

“We developed a downtown master plan which incorporated the streetscape design, the sidewalk design, the types of planters and street furniture, as well as what would really be supported and looked forward to in terms of the facades of downtown buildings.”

He said their Main Street program helped businesses to secure funding to help the City’s businesses meet the look the City was pursuing through partnerships, as well as their own construction.

Minken gave his thoughts towards next year’s plans for the project.

“We still have the Market Square to do, so I would assume that we’ll be seeing Market Square and that area around the Market Square come up [next year, and] the next block of Chaplin likely. There'll be some assessment as to the condition of other areas, but that’ll all be sorted out as we head forward.”