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Western Canada High School art teacher Gwen Ridout said her Grade 11 art class was keen to learn about tactical urbanism — a new name for the old concept of making urban environments more enjoyable with low-cost tactics — and brainstorm how they could better the vacant space created by the temporary road configuration.

The city budgeted $1,000 for art materials, and after weeks of planning, students set to work Wednesday filling the roadway now separated by curbs with packing tape figures, colourful tires turned into flower beds, tree stumps, and paint.

“(The students) didn’t even know really what the word tactical urbanization meant,” said Ridout. “It’s great being out in the public, as opposed to sitting in the classroom … They’ve really had a good time.”

But not everyone is happy with the students’ work.

Resident Theresa Munch has called 311 and her councillor’s office to complain about the eyesore in front of her home she worries will distract drivers as they try to navigate the new road barriers.

“I think it’s very unattractive and I pay a lot of taxes and I don’t want to look at this,” said Munch.

“I appreciate it’s fun and interesting. For a playground it is, not for a busy intersection and especially not a newly configured intersection.”

Munch said she also worries what will happen with all the new props on busy Friday and Saturday nights, in an area very close to local watering holes.

“Last weekend they were throwing the orange temporary pylons down the road … They have more fodder now. This is going to be a disaster,” she said.