The s plans to move forward with their downtown revitalization initiative is coming to fruition this year.

Phase one of the plan is scheduled to begin in July 2012 and the village will be cost sharing the work by tying it in with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's roadworks scheduled for the downtown core.

As reported in the Lakes District 亚洲天堂 edition of March 28, 2012, three kilometres of Hwy. 16 in 亚洲天堂 Lake's downtown core will be resurfaced, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings will be added and a speed reader board will be installed in the area.

According to village chief administrative officer Sheryl Worthing, several grants have been applied for to help fund the village's $520,000 portion of the project.

An application for a $100,000 grant from the Northern Development Economic Diversification Infrastructure grant will be submitted before the May 11, 2012, deadline and an additional grant application has already been submitted to the N for $200,000.

Worthing said the village will continue to search for more grant opportunities to help reduce the cost.

"If all of these grants are approved for the full amount requested, the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake would be responsible for approximately $200,000 of the phase one project costs," she said.

Funds are also allotted from gas tax funds, a debenture and Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake capital reserves.

The village has made an agreement with the ministry to contribute a maximum of $220,000 for the design and construction of concrete, asphalt and electrical work, including a Third Ave. emergency fire signal light that will be controlled by the 亚洲天堂 Lake Fire and Rescue department.

They will also assume all responsibility for the landscaping work associated with phase one, including all medians and curb bulbs. Worthing said, "Landscaping costs have been budgeted for and will be completed by the public works crew in the spring of 2013."

As reported in the Lakes District 亚洲天堂 edition of Feb. 1, 2012, phase one of the downtown revitalization project originally had a $948,000 price tag to fully implement, however due to cost sharing with the ministry this amount has now been reduced to $520,000.

"Estimated costs have changed due to our partnership with the and their willingness to complete portions of the phase one work as a component of their Hwy. 16 resurfacing project," Worthing said.

Phase one upgrades will include installing left turn lanes at Third Ave. and Fifth Ave., adding curb bulbs with trees along the highway corridor to visually enhance the area while maintaining as much on street parking as possible, adding an emergency light at the intersection of Third Ave. and Hwy. 16, changing the traffic pattern where First Ave. meets Hwy. 16 and where Centre St. meets Hwy. 16 and adding and relocating crosswalk locations in front of 亚洲天堂 Lake Eye Care, New Leaf Cafe, the Beacon Theatre and College of New Caledonia.

"Phase one will see traffic pattern changes to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety and crosswalk locations have been added or moved for convenience and safety," Worthing added.

Construction is expected to be completed by October of 2012.

The village's downtown revitalization plan includes three phases.

Phase two focuses on Gateway Square which will be located in between and New Leaf Cafe and will serve as the town鈥檚 centre. The village said this space will be used for civic celebrations and concerts.

Phase three encompasses portions of Gilgan Dr., Government St. and the intersection of Government St. and Third Ave. "We do not have cost estimates for phases two and three at this point and implementation will be dependent on budget and grant availability," Worthing said.

Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake director of corporate services, Stephanie Beerling said, "The plans for phase two and three of the downtown revitalization are only preliminary at this point and changes are still able to be made. If members of the public have comments or suggestions regarding the plans they are welcome to attend a council meeting, or a downtown revitalization committee meeting."

According to Beerling, the village's downtown revitalization committee consists of 10 members, most of whom own or operate a business in the downtown core. "This committee has met regularly since October 2011 and has reviewed each phase of the plans in detail. Committee members have been gathering input from community members and suggestions and concerns are then brought forward at the meetings where they can be addressed and discussed with Boulevard Transportation Group, who are completing the preliminary design plans," she said.

"A number of concerns and suggestions regarding the downtown revitalization plans have been addressed and the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake and the downtown revitalization committee are still making amendments to the plans."