Laneways, with “Quick Win” interventions, can become complementary extensions of existing community facilities.

Over the course of 2018, we worked with St. Lawrence neighbourhood residents, businesses and organizations to develop a revitalization master plan to transform Nicholson Lane from a utilitarian space into a beautiful, safe and appealing shared place for community and service use — including infrastructure for community-led activation, multi-modal safety and traffic management measures, art by local artists, pedestrian-friendly lighting for safety and character, and greening that softens the space and ties into existing programs at the adjacent St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre.

During 2019, we implemented the first, “quick win” phase of the project, installing year-round planter gardens, solar lighting and a gorgeous new mural.

This project is supported by the Public Space Incubator, which is a program of Park People that is funded by Ken and Eti Greenberg and the Balsam Foundation. Thanks to Michael Thorek for generously sponsoring the planning phase.