Launched a decade ago, Vancouver's 'country lane' demonstration project proved how the city's back alleys could provide attractive and accessible open spaces. As the city seeks ways to provide more green space, it's time to revisit the experiment.
One initiative being considered to help Vancouver reach its goal of becoming the world’s greenest city "is the improvement of its residential alleyways, from mundane, paved side streets filled with detritus and parked cars to spiffy pedestrian-friendly avenues interspersed with vegetable gardens and micro-parks," writes Brian Hutchinson. "The push is on, with city-managed open houses last month. But these are pie-in-the sky discussions with inscrutable visual presentations."
"A former city planner wonders why Vancouver doesn’t just revisit a simple experiment launched a decade ago; it saw several back alleys transformed into grassy and accessible 'country lanes.'"
"Most Vancouverites don’t even know they exist [only three were completed], but those whose homes back onto the greened-up lanes appreciate them a great deal," notes Hutchinson. "Surveys conducted among residents living alongside the experimental lanes indicated a majority were very satisfied, finding them attractive and more useful than paved routes."
"Later this month, [Mike] Klassen [conservative pundit and country lane neighbor] is planning to hold a 10-year 'anniversary celebration' in recognition of his beloved back lane. He’d like to see Vancouver city council revisit the experiment, which he thinks compares well to the more complicated lane way initiatives now being pursued."
Read the full story: Forgotten ‘country lane’ experiment could be answer to Vancouver’s desire for more green space
Four Cities Making the Most of Alley Spaces
Urbanful examines four cities making the most of scare public spaces by reactivating their alleys with programming and pedestrian-friendly designs.
Transit leaders progress high-speed rail from Portland to Vancouver, B.C.
Washington state officials may reveal feasible routes for the high-speed rail in late 2027.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060
Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.
LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.
Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code
The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority