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Location set for pride sidewalk

Corner of 224th Street at Memorial Peace Park, if council agrees
Mayor Nicole Read holds the Pride flag outside city hall on Tuesday.
Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read displays the city’s pride flag on Tuesday at city hall.

Maple Ridge city staff have come up with a location for a pride crosswalk that was approved by council earlier this month.

If approved at the June 28 council meeting, the new crossing will be on 224th Street, in front of Memorial Peace Park.

Council told staff to research a location for the sidewalk, and decided to fly the pride flag and held a moment of silence earlier this month after the June 12 mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., during which 49 people were killed.

City staff looked at various locations, including Edge Street, Dewdney Trunk Road and Lougheed Highway, but settled on 224th Street.

It’s recommended in a report to council that the rainbow colours of the LGBTQ movement be painted so that the bars of colours are parallel to the sidewalks, which the crosswalk joins.

“Installation of the pride sidewalk would symbolize council and community support for the LGBTQ community, especially following the recent horrific tragedy in Orlando, Florida,” says a staff report.

The sidewalk would be painted on the road in July, before Pride Week celebrations in Vancouver at the end of the month. Total cost should be between $4,000 and $6,000.