It’ll be a while longer before Huntsville gets a pride crosswalk.
Huntsville General Committee voted this month to delay a decision on painting a crosswalk at Main St. and West St. in the colours of the pride flag.
Like the proposal to paint a crosswalk in front of Huntsville High School last year, the price tag proved a sticking point, this time estimated at $81,000.
Tarmo Uukkivi, Huntsville’s Director of Operations and Protective Services, says that figure reflects the 67 per cent cost increase seen with line painting across the board.
He says last year’s estimate of $50,000 is largely because contractors only stock the standard yellow and white road paints, and would need to buy and store the flag’s other colours in bulk.
Councillors Scott Morrison and Helena Renwick then tabled a motion to give them until September to look at other options and locations for the Pride crosswalk, hopefully finding a more reasonably priced solution.
“At $81,000, we wouldn’t propose doing this. We don’t want the taxpayer paying $81,000 for a crosswalk,” said Morrison, noting several municipalities have done similar projects for $15,000 or less. “If we can discover that it is cheaper, and we can do something more spectacular, and something that’s great for our town, that’s when we can really make a decision.”
Renwick said this is an opportunity to expand the idea into a “unity square” at River Mill Park, with a Pride display joining the existing Indigenous display, with room to include other groups such as Canadian veterans.
“I’m really excited that this is something that we can still look at and still make our community inclusive,” said Renwick. “Because I was very disappointed by the amount of money that would have been spent on a crosswalk in downtown. And I certainly do not support $81,000 on paint.”
The substitute motion passed unanimously, and council will reexamine the item later this year.
