New Hamilton project aims to put up paradise and tear down parking lots

Take a slow tour of Barton Street East and you will notice gardens showcasing native trees and perennials, with inviting places to sit.

At the corner of Barton and Gibson a stone path leads to a picnic table, where a mural on the EduDeo Ministries building is the backdrop for a rain garden.

At Barton and Fullerton columnar beech trees anchor a garden planted with perennials and ornamental grasses.

These gardens have replaced concrete, asphalt and rubble. They have turned waste places into pockets of paradise. The gardens are possible because of the Depave Paradise project spearheaded by Green Venture Hamilton.

The simple philosophy is this: dig up hard surfaces, replace bad soil with good, and plant layers of green comprised of trees, shrubs and perennials.

It's an idea that has many benefits. More trees are added to the city's tree canopy, hot areas turn to cool retreats, and rainwater is absorbed into the ground instead of pouring into the overworked sewer system. And no price can be put on creating beauty in neighbourhoods with many challenges.

While the idea is simple, depaving is complex. Many partners must be onboard. The gardens are on boulevards owned by the city. Business owners bordering the gardens need to agree to the project. But they do more than agree, they often support the gardens with their own money.