Exciting Web Site re: the Canton Project

Hey Everybody,

Igho, the director of the canton project, just sent me this really cool great web site on "Community Greens." This site gives an impression of just what sort of physical change the community gardens portion of the urban ecology canton project will bring to the West Ward. The whole site is interesting, especially the tabs for "Existing Greens"--highlighting troubled communities around the country who have already done this and succeeded in reducing crime and raising property values--and "Resources," which is where I found the link I've pasted below to "Alley Gating and Greening Block Action Plan." Could you imagine if most of our tight little alleys were closed to car traffic and became beautiful little alley courtyards for residents? Take a look at the pictures and see:

Community Greening Web Site

It could reduce drug deals in our alleys and provide beautiful safe spaces for our residents and their families to relax and play--not to mention how beautiful and lush our neighborhood would become! Those alleys are really too narrow for car traffic anyway, and it makes me nervous to drive down them because so many little children play in the allies.

Under the ordinance featured here, it only takes 80% of homeowners that abut an alley to agree, to be able to gate it off and make it a courtyard. I imagine one obstacle could be the objection to lost parking space since a lot of people park in the alleys, so a parking solution would have to be part of the plan. Dennis, could you post some possible solutions?

I know we've got some really green thumbs in this group (Jim, Lynn, Ken, Ron, Greg, Tracy, Ted, Maurice, Cathy, John, and Tim & Earl come immediately to mind : ) so I have no doubt that this could become a reality if we put our minds to it. If other distressed neighborhoods in America can do it, so can we. We just have to roll up our sleeves and get to it, so I hope you all have Monday, Oct. 27th on your calendars!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, Everybody : )
Noel