Community Green Spaces: Cultivating a A Greener City Sustainably Through Community Planning
Green Venture, in collaboration with Westinghouse HQ, Barton BIA, Adele Pierre, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Ward 3 office, is excited to announce our Community Rain Garden Planting Day on Thursday, September 5th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The event will take place at Westinghouse HQ, 286 Sanford Ave N, Hamilton, ON, thanks to funding from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Ward 3 office.
Westinghouse HQ is Green Venture’s 16th urban site transformation, and the 8th public garden planted in Barton Village. You can check out our other Barton St. projects below:
Community Feedback and Engagement
It was important for Green Venture to engage local community members for their input on the space. After months of community feedback sessions at 541 Eatery and Exchange, Pinch Bakery and Plant Shop, the Barton Village Farmers Market, and local community events, Green Venture collected community members’ grand visions for making Barton Street more vibrant – including additional canopy coverage, bright flowers and pollinators, native species, and public seating!
Designing Our Green Oasis
The energy was contagious as we collectively envisioned what the otherwise unused grass lawns could become. Once Adele Pierre, landscape architect, designed beautiful gardens to meet all of our community interests, it became clear that Westinghouse was going to be an incredible depave project for all community members to enjoy!
“We at Westinghouse HQ are very excited to partner with Green Venture and to be added to their long list of beautiful and transformative projects in the Barton Village community!” says Tyler Cowie, CEO at Westinghouse HQ.
Public Reception and Education
Once the designs were finished, it was an absolute pleasure to show them to our community partners – their faces filling with excitement and joy at the vibrancy of this much-needed greenspace.
But these gardens were much more functional than they appear on the surface. In addition to looking good, these greenspaces promoted partnerships and conversations that built a strong sense of community in the neighbourhood. Likewise, these gardens help mitigate flooding, improving the community’s water quality and reducing stormwater runoff. The native plants support important pollinators and help maintain the natural water cycle by temporarily holding and soaking runoff that otherwise drains off the pavement into our sewer systems.
Throughout this process, we discovered that the Barton Village community is ready and excited for new urban green spaces. Residents expressed a desire for more greenery, seating, and community-led initiatives. Small actions—like planting native species in forgotten corners—clearly can have a big impact on community well-being.
Join Us for Planting Day!
On September 5, let’s take our dreams and designs to the next level. Join Green Venture and fellow volunteers as we transform four sites, in by planting hundreds of perennials, shrubs, and trees. Together, we’ll make Hamilton bloom!
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, September 5, 2024
- Time: 5:30 – 7:30PM EST
- Location: Westinhouse HQ, 286 Sanford Ave N, Hamilton, ON, L8L 6A1
RSVP Today
Register today to volunteer at the Community Planting Day by signing up here. Let’s make Barton Street a greener place to be!
