YORKTON - The Yorkton Business Improvement District (YBID) had a busy 2021, and expects to remain so this year.
That was the message YBID Executive Director Donna Brothwell had for Yorkton Council when she made the organization’s annual report at the April 11, meeting.
Among the key ongoing projects is Clean Sweet, in partnership with SIGN, said Brothwell. Local workers will once again be out in 2022 keeping the district’s sidewalks clean.
The popular flower pots were again in place in 2021 and will be in 2022 as well, again with partners Young’s Plant World and Prairie Harvest Employment Centre. The pots are started early in the year and are placed in several locations in the District and cared for by our Partners during the year.
“In the early spring of 2021 we received a grant from PHCDC to replace 40 of the older pots and will now for this year have the program back up to the 300 pots as it was in inception,” offered Brothwell.
The walking bridge along the Dracup area in our District is on-going and a part of our budget does include payment for this in partnership with the City of Yorkton, continued Brothwell. This is a five-year commitment of $50,000/year.
This year also marks YBID’s final payment of a $25,000 donation to the Old Mill.
In 2021, following a request by Council YBID has assumed all fiduciary and maintenance responsibilities for the mural since the Renaissance Group dissolved a few years ago, said Brothwell. With the grandfathered monies, we contacted the original artist as well as local artists who came onboard to restore the mural.
The mural was restored and will now be maintained.
Council also asked YBID to look into the clock in the park.
It was losing time and would completely shut off during cold spells and many complaints were coming in to the City about that, said Brothwell.
Taken on by YBID initially in 2016, the Santa Claus Parade was again held.
In 2020 the parade was held in reverse because of the pandemic with some 800 vehicles driving by the floats, said Brothwell.
In 2021 we decided to continue the parade as a reverse one for safety and to meet COVID restrictions. We saw great support from the community once again with 650 vehicles through the parade, she added.
It will be determined, through consultation with the community whether to hold a reverse or traditional parade this year.
Looking ahead Brothwell said a major YBID initiative in 2022 will be to undertake a strategic plan, the last one carried out in 2017.
There are also a series of park parties being planned for the downtown, said Brothwell.
We are currently trying to organize June Days of Summer and do food or activity events each Thursday in June by different ethnic groups, she told Council.
There is also work being done toward a winter festival for the city.
“We have funding set aside for this,” said Brothwell, adding “We are looking to partner with an organization or the City to do a winter carnival in Feb. of 2023.”
