The City of Merritt’s leisure services department, public works department and community policing office are looking to make some changes to Spirit Square.
RCMP Const. Tracy Dunsmore told the Herald the CPO will be doing a crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) review of Spirit Square.
Dunsmore said a CPTED review is usually done when building new construction so as to prevent crime.
“You’re looking at signs, lines of sight, lighting, location, visibility, things like that,” Dunsmore said.
The goal of the initiative is to reduce crime through enhanced usage of the space.
Dunsmore said Spirit Square sees crime such as vandalism, graffiti and drinking in public.
She said they are looking at how to increase the usage of Spirit Square in order to deter that crime.
“People aren’t going to be sitting in there drinking if people are back there listening to music,” Dunsmore said.
She also said they are looking at possibly installing anti-skateboarding devices and cameras.
“It has to be cost effective, too,” Dunsmore said.
Community policing co-ordinator Kelly Donaldson said “a bone of contention” with Spirit Square has been youth using it for skateboarding.
City of Merritt leisure services manager Larry Plotnikoff told the Herald he’s had one meeting with Dunsmore and Donaldson on the initiative and thinks it’s a great idea.
“We’re looking at wanting to increase the use of Spirit Square, definitely, in a safe and healthy manner, and encourage folks to come down, visit the square and have some things for them to do there,” Plotnikoff said.
“We’d love to see somebody with a little food cart or something back there,” Dunsmore said, adding that something such as a hot dog or ice cream stand would entice people to the square.
Plotnikoff said the use of the Fireside Centre next door should be able to generate increased activity to the square as well.
Donaldson said an example of a CPTED principal for Spirit Square is the blocked line of sight between the area where the canopy is located and the side where the bandshell is.
“I could be on one side where the canopy is and I would have no idea on that stage side if something was going on there, because you can’t see, there’s no sight lines,” Donaldson said.
The initiative for Spirit Square is still in preliminary stages.
“Our goal is to increase usage and increase a sense of community for the square, so that the undesirable behaviours don’t happen as much,” Donaldson said.
