Cleaning up since 2012: Beautiful Alleys turns 10

Alleyways have served as transportation networks for communities across the globe for decades, including vehicular and foot transportation. The maintenance and beautification of back alleys are crucial to urban renewal strategies in communities where alleys are collectively used by residents.

Ten years ago, I sat around a table with a small group of concerned individuals from the GALA (Gibson And Landsdale Area) Community Planning Team. GALA was one of several newly minted, city “hubs” focused on improving neighbourhoods through resident-led grassroots initiatives.

One small, soft-spoken but feisty woman named Brenda Duke was talking about how she envisioned cleaning up and beautifying the parks, green spaces and most importantly the alleyways in her neighbourhood. She was enthusiastically pushing the Alley and Laneway Enhancement program.

A decade later, Beautiful Alleys, as the event is now known, has grown from a handful of people taking it upon themselves to clean up the alleyways in their own little neighbourhood in Ward 3, to a bi-annual, citywide initiative stretching from Westdale to Stoney Creek and even some locations on The Mountain.

The spring cleanup this past April saw over 400 volunteers clean up alleyways and even some railway tracks from one end of the city to the other. More than 40,000 lb of trash was collected altogether. (The fall cleanup is slated for Saturday.)

Beautiful Alleys is not just about cleaning up. It’s also about beautifying. A few years back, the program initiated the Urban Art Project, funded by the Hamilton Community Foundation. Six art installations produced by local artists appeared on fences and garage doors in six different neighbourhoods.

Beautiful Alleys also worked with Green Venture to execute alley “makeovers.” The alley between Westinghouse and Milton, now known as Westmill Alley, was enhanced with artwork, signage, lighting, benches and plantings. The alley between Sanford and Westinghouse, now known as Lois Lane — named after a longtime resident who cared for the alley over the years — depicts the history of the Italian restaurant her family owned for three generations. Another art installation speaks to the theme of “Super Heroes” in our alleys. Garden beds, a rain barrel and plantings beautify the spaces as well.

Beautiful Alleys has partnered with Friendly Streets, Hamilton

Health Sciences and Environment Hamilton to create alternative pathways providing pedestrians and cyclists with safe, clean routes that bypass the busy commercial corridors and heavily trafficked streets.

Worth noting — in 2017, a unique relationship was established between Beautiful Alleys and CN and CP Rail. A working partnership between employees of the rail companies and the community was forged. To my knowledge, no other group in Ontario or maybe even Canada has ever created such an alliance.

Beautiful Alleys is a volunteer-organized and volunteer-led program dedicated to maintaining and beautifying our public spaces. The mission is to create safe, enjoyable spaces for people of all ages and abilities, regardless of status, gender, race, religion or ethnicity.

So, thank you Beautiful Alleys for all the work you’ve done over the past 10 years! May you have many more successful endeavours far into the future.

Additional information: Fall Community cleanup and CP Rail cleanup, Saturday. CN Track Gang is scheduled for Oct. 22.

For more information, please contact Beautiful Alleys at hamiltonalleys@gmail.com.