Our role: The Compost Education Centre will be playing a “match-making” role between folks who need a space to garden and boulevard gardens that need someone to maintain them. If you want to be placed on a list of potential gardeners, or have a boulevard garden that you need help with, please e-mail your location and contact information to vicboulevardgardens@gmail.com.
Useful links: See the complete set of Interim Boulevard Gardening Guidelines here.
Huge thanks to Mike Large and his team of supporters for drafting the guidelines and working to make this happen! Check out Mike’s website StreetGreens to learn more about three beautiful boulevard gardens already happening in Victoria! For more details, see the statement from the City below.
Haultain Commons Photo credit: Mike Large
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 For Immediate Release
VICTORIA, BC – A new set of guidelines are now available to help gardeners bring their boulevards to life. Boulevard gardens can create healthy and diverse ecosystems, and vibrant and attractive streets, while also improving local food security.
“We are excited to give the green light to boulevard gardens in Victoria,” said Mayor Dean Fortin. “These new guidelines recognize a practice that is already happening and provide assurance that boulevards will be maintained to a high standard. Boulevard gardens offer an opportunity to add vibrancy to our streets, increase local food production and build community.”
The interim boulevard gardening guidelines allow property owners to create gardens on boulevards immediately adjacent to their property. The guidelines outline the safety, accessibility, maintenance, and aesthetic elements that should be considered and also the legal responsibilities of managing a specific area of the boulevard. Once a comprehensive boulevard review is complete, final guidelines will be introduced in 2016.
Generally speaking, boulevards are the strip of City-owned land between a property and the street. The majority of boulevards are currently planted with grass and trees. Boulevard gardens can create more beautiful, interesting and diverse streets, add character to neighbourhoods and increase feelings of community pride. They can also support environmental benefits such as providing bird, butterfly and pollinator habitats. Working on the boulevard can bloom into community building, traffic calming, and healthier living. These benefits all relate to goals found within the Official Community Plan.
Boulevard gardens do not require City approval, but the guidelines must be followed. Property owners are also encouraged to email details about their garden to parks@victoria.ca. These details will help evaluate the success of the guidelines and the boulevard gardens that begin to sprout up.
What to do if you’re considering a Boulevard Garden:
· Call before you dig: Call BC One Call at 1.800.474.6886 to check to see if there are any utility lines under the boulevard. Also call the Engineering and Public Works Department at 250.361.0313 to see if there are sewer, stormwater or water lines in your area.
· Dig with care: Use hand tools only and follow the directions from the utility companies.
