The first event of The Places Project took place on March 23rd under a sunny spring sky. Thank you to all who came out and made the event such a success.
It was inspiring to see a mix of participants from the Greater Victoria community, Burnside-Gorge residents, planning professionals, and advocacy groups all coming out to share their perspectives. The walk dove into the theme of walkability.
We explored 4 key themes that make up a walkable neighbourhood along our hour-long urban space discovery walk:
- Proximity: are there places in walking distances (typically 15-20 minutes walk) to work, play, live and learn?
- Infrastructure: Where are the sidewalks, crossings and furniture? How accessible are they? How does the road infrastructure, texture and size affect drivers, bikers and walkers?
- Vitality: What are the stimulating sights, sounds and smells that add texture and beauty to the neighbourhood? Does it feel safe and comfortable to be out and about?
- Diversity: Is there a diversity of people, shops and options in walking distance?
One of the highlights of using a walk as a tool to explore the neighbourhood is that it provides an opportunity to really slow down and notice what is around us. Walking as equals with others provides the chances to share stories and perspectives and learn something new.
Stay tuned to hear more insights about what we learned along the way…
It is with excitement that we announce The Places Project’s next event: Re-Imagine Oaklands. Join us as we explore the role of green spaces in the neighbourhood.
Re-imagine Oaklands Neighbourhood
Sunday April 14th 12-2pm
1-2827 Belmont Ave
Bring a veggie! This event will be in conjunction with Victoria’s Stone Soup project, please bring a veggie with you at the start of the walk so we can share in creating and eating a delicious meal together after the walk during our debrief.
-Individually we bring enough but collectively, we create so much more-
RSVP to placesproject [a] rethinkurban.com or join the MeetUp group online.
Looking forward to exploring with you…
Sarah Rose & Lorne
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