Neighbourhood Greenway: Avalon

Located in Vancouver's Victoria-Fraserview neighbourhood at Wales St and East 43rd Avenue, the greenway is adjacent to Avalon Dairy. Avalon Dairy opened in 1906 and is B.C.'s oldest continuously operating dairy outlet. In fact, the dairy outlet and farmhouse are still owned and operated by the original owners, the Crowley family.

Residents embraced the opportunity to highlight this history when the City’s Community Visioning team came to their neighbourhood. The Community Vision process encourages additional greening and street enhancements for frequently used walking and cycling routes and also includes direction for community involvement. A greenway adjacent to the historic Avalon Dairy on Wales St was the perfect project.

Avalon Dairy and the Vancouver School Board plant nursery form an interesting node within a residential neighbourhood. The 43rd Ave Neighbourhood Greenway Committee wished to enhance that node and the pedestrian link between Clarendon Street and Wales Street. Their goal was to provide a community garden space that would:

• Be inviting to local residents, school children and neighbourhood gardeners;
• Become integral in local events such as the Wales Street Festival; and
• Celebrate the history of the area.

Construction began in the fall of 2005 and culminated with the installation of a public art project “Til the Cows Come Home” in October and a community planting day on a gloriously sunny Saturday in November.

The official opening took place in June 2006 with an outdoor dinner and celebration in the greenway for the 40+ community members who helped make this project happen.