Neighbours are creating a sense of place through creative additions to common space
>> Ben Clark
The placemaking trend is gaining momentum throughout Oaklands and the rest of the region – neighbours taking the initiative to creatively transform their common space into a vibrant and welcoming environment. Placemaking can include everything from chalk art on the street to planting a garden on the boulevard to building a little library box. A herb garden or little library in front of a house provides an inviting interface between public and private property.
I was already thinking about putting a book box in front of my house, and then became even more inspired when I heard Oaklands Community Association’s own Sarah Rose Robert on the radio talking about a great map she made of all the little libraries in the city. You can find a link to the map and her blog post about it at victoriaplacemaking.ca.
In response to this growing trend, City Staff have been hard at work developing guidelines for boulevard gardens to help both beginners and experienced gardeners build gardens in a way that provides a community benefit without creating hazards or interfering with public safety.
A great time to stroll around the neighbourhood and check out some of the current placemaking is on May 9th from 9am to 1pm, when Oaklands holds its Annual Neighbourhood Garage Sale Day.
This spring, I encourage you to consider what you can do to sprout some placemaking initiatives on your street, and help make our neighbourhoods a unique and inviting place to be.
