Bringing Life to the Streets of the Downtown Eastside (DTES)

Blood Alley Community Greening

Local residents, businesses and other community members joined forces on a project that benefited the environment while also introducing a cultural element.  

Engaging the Environmental Youth Alliance facilitated the community-based gardening and cultural project in Gastown’s Blood Alley. Planters were designed and put in on the Stanley-New Fountain hotel balcony. Community garbage bins were built. Planting in existing planters were added to. And community created totem carvings were installed. With the project’s first phase ending in November 2009, the second phase to add a living wall, a new planter, and improve existing planters is now underway. Along with creating pride in this important public space, the improvements also foster community upkeep efforts.

Completed Totem carving

Completed planter boxes

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