Funds for upgrades to the Kamloops North Shore — beyond what the city already does — has been given the green-light by council’s Committee of the Whole.

The North Shore Public Realm Improvement Fund will see the city provide 250-thousand dollars a year over the next 5-years for beautification projects, according to North Shore Business Improvement Association Executive Director Jeremy Heighton.

He says it goes above and beyond what the city would normally take care of in that section of Kamloops.

“Sewars, water, all that kind of other stuff… that’s covered off in the capital budget,” notes Heighton. “It’s the benches, it’s the crosswalk safety, it’s the trees, it’s the planters… all of those other things that make community space accessible and comfortable for people.”

The money — to come out of gaming, and not property taxes — will be administered by the city, but projects will be decided upon by the North Shore BIA, the city and North Shore community groups.

Heighton says he doesn’t anticipate any major infighting about which projects will gain access to the new money.

“There is a Tranquille Road-specific beautification plan that’s been on the books — believe it or not — since 2011,” notes Heighton. “That plan largely discusses where the planters will be, where garbage winds will be, where benches will be.”

The Improvement Fund is specifically designed for projects along the Tranquille Corridor.

While approved by the Committee of the Whole, the North Shore Public Realm Improvement Fund still has to receive sign-off by the entirety of Kamloops Council before being officially added as a line-item in the budget.