The Laneway Project in Toronto, ON, Canada, is an innovative urban design and planning organization working to change the way people view and use city center laneways, or alleys.
The project brings together diverse stakeholders and establishes community stewards to ensure the ongoing success of individual projects.
Re-positioning alleys as public space has many benefits for a downtown, says the organization, including increased walkability and connectivity, new space for events and informal physical activity, green space, and a venue for public art, outdoor seating, and pop-up or micro-business opportunities.
Two alleys are getting what the group calls the Laneway Puncture treatment. For these, the center of the alley is re-paved with open-celled pavers and planted with hardy plant material. “In addition to beautifying the landscape and enhancing biodiversity, punctures increase ground permeability and divert storm water from the municipal sewage system by allowing it to percolate more slowly into the city’s soil.”
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