New aesthetics guidelines recommended by local wildfire recovery staff are intended to brighten up Jasper’s local motif and bring in new, colour-curious visitors.
But critics suggest the bold new tones will have the rebuilt Jasper townsite resembling Newfoundland’s famous Jellybean row.
While Jasper rebuilds, efforts continue amongst local officials to facilitate a long-awaited transfer of land-use and development authority from the federal government to the Municipality of Jasper. Before that handover happens, however, a recommendation to “cheer up” Jasper’s muted colour palette has been fast tracked through Parks Canada’s Planning and Development Committee (PDAC).
No longer will the town’s motif guideline be limited to earth tones resembling the natural mountain environment, staff at JNP’s recent Annual Forum explained on March 9.
Instead, brightly contrasting colours—cherry reds, lime greens, sky blues, mustard yellows and even hot pinks—will be not just allowed, but encouraged.
“Bright colours represent hope and happiness,” said Jasper’s outgoing director of recovery Mark Fike. “Jasper still needs those two things, plus visitors, in spades right now. ”
But at least one Ash Avenue resident is concerned that the new kaleidoscopic colour palette will turn tourists off of Jasper, maybe for good.
“Those homes in Newfoundland were painted boldly to be visible through thick fog. Jasper rarely gets fog, even in APRIL FOOLS!”
Bob Covey // gotcha@thejasperlocal.com
-with files from Andrea Ziegler
