
From flowers to art, Alberta Avenue residents are reimagining the view from its alleys
CBC
From cleaning up the trash to planting flowers and herbs, Alberta Avenue residents are working on plans to spruce up five alleys in the neighbourhood.
It's part of a project called Green Alley, spearheaded by volunteers who have been working together since May to develop the plans and seek partnerships with community leagues, city departments and non-profits.
"It really brings neighbours together, brings ideas from people that normally sometimes do not participate on neighbourhood stuff," said Corrina Hortado, a Green Alley volunteer.
The initiative will first be tried on five alleys — three stretches located east of 95th Street between 112th and 119th avenues, as well as two stretches north of 118th Avenue between 86th and 89th Streets.
The plans include cleaning up discarded garbage, planting trees, flowers or herbs, improved lighting to increase visibility and deter crime, and adding art wherever possible.
Christy Morin, executive director of Arts on the Ave, said the project was inspired by pleas for help from neighbours.
"Lots of grit and grime, lots of crime, lots of drug use, a lot of (overdoses) that are happening just half a block off of 95th Street, which is now becoming a corridor that needs some real strong attention," she said.

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