Occupy laneways? Is this idea right for your neighbourhood? (18 photos)

Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Shoemaker will ask City Council next week to consider re-purposing the city's back laneways as vibrant green spaces.

The idea has been widely popular in Montreal-area neighbourhoods and is catching on in numerous other areas.

To learn more about green laneways, please click here, then follow this link for a how-to guide to converting your own back alley.

Below is the full text of a resolution placed on the agenda on Monday's City Council meeting by Shoemaker and his Ward 2 counterpart Luke Dufour.

The meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.

To email Mayor Provenzano and all 10 city councillors to express your views on this issue, please click here.

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Green laneways

Mover: Councillor M. Shoemaker
Seconder: Councillor L. Dufour

Whereas Sault Ste Marie has many laneways in various states of repair; and

Whereas each year, the city is doing more construction and road maintenance with a relatively stagnant construction budget; and

Whereas laneways are not typically the highest priority for limited maintenance dollars; and

Whereas green laneways have proven to be an effective way to counter the urban heat-island effect, enhance biodiversity, reduce stormwater runoff and give aesthetic pleasure to residents;

Now therefore be it resolved that staff be requested to investigate the success of green laneways across other Canadian cities and report back on the feasibility of a green laneway pilot project for Sault Ste. Marie.

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