Monitoring Green Spaces

Over the years, Green Venture has been at the forefront of transforming urban landscapes in Hamilton, Ontario, through the creation of 40 green spaces including rain pollinator gardens and 23 community tree plantings. These initiatives beautify the city, provide accessible green spaces and play a crucial role in environmental sustainability by managing stormwater, enhancing biodiversity, and improving air quality. While we all love to install green spaces in Hamilton, our team recognizes the importance of ensuring projects are successful long into the future. As such, in 2025 Green Venture will be focusing on taking care of the sites we helped create to ensure their long-term viability.

Since their beginnings in 2012, Green Venture’s Depave projects have literally and figuratively been groundbreaking in Hamilton - volunteers working together to remove asphalt by hand in schoolyards and community spaces and planting native gardens and trees in its place was unheard of and untested in Hamilton and across the country. Fast forward to today, and now Hamilton has 40 examples on the ground that demonstrate that it is possible to successfully transform grey to green and impermeable to permeable. For all the success stories, we have also encountered challenges and less successful outcomes. Informed by our learning over the years and adopting the more holistic Living Cities framework, developed by our partners at Green Communities Canada, our goals in Hamilton have shifted in recent years. We are now seeking first and foremost to ensure that all our greening projects are equitable, abundant and thriving. Thriving greenspaces require a long-term commitment to stewardship and maintenance. 

Here are some key projects from recent years: 

Laidlaw Memorial Church, transformed in 2024 

Green Venture staff, alongside 75 volunteers, worked to plant 516 native plants and 16 native trees, revitalizing 237.9 m² of green space. Community members’ input was central to the project’s development, ensuring the creation of this green space was equitable, accessible, and abundant. The newly established green space at Laidlaw is a vital addition to the city’s climate change resiliency. Annually, this garden diverts 777,938 litres of stormwater, while providing a lush habitat for native pollinators. Through the use of a downspout channeling rainwater into the rain garden, an area of 699.35 M2 of impervious surface has now been diverted. Some of the plants featured in this garden include: American hophornbeam, Wild geranium, White wood aster, and Yarrow. This project would not have been possible without the help of our funders Laidlaw’s restoration would not have been possible without the help of funders: Green Communities Canada, Green Cities Foundation, Tree Canada, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, and Hamilton Community Foundation. 

Westinghouse, transformed in 2024 

Green Venture staff, with the help of 45 volunteers, successfully completed our 8th installation along Barton St. The former grass lawn at Westinghouse has been transformed into a stunning biodiversity oasis, designed to reduce flooding and promote native biodiversity. Annually, this garden diverts 208,481 liters of stormwater, helping replenish the local water table. Through the use of a downspout channeling rainwater into a rain garden, an area of 45 M2 of impervious rooftop surface has now been diverted. Over 300 native plants and two native trees have been planted at this location. Some of the plants featured in this garden include: Oak sedge, Prairie dropseed, Little giant cedar, May night Salvia, and Piglet fountain grass. Thank you to our funders and community partners: Westinghouse’s pollinator oasis could not have been accomplished without the help from Adele Designer, Westinghouse HQ, and community partners such as 541 Barton and Barton Village Market. This project was funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 

673 Barton St E, transformed in 2023 

On the corner of Sherman and Barton St E volunteers came together to plant a sustainable space that will provide many ecological services to the community. 73 m2 was depaved and replaced with a pollinator garden which will help reduce stormwater runoff and urban pollution. Be sure to view the beautiful mural on the wall behind the garden by Koe Design, as it showcases Ontario native plants! Thank you to our funders and community partners: Barton Village BIA, Adele Pierre Landscape Architect, Canada Community Revitalization Fund, City of Hamilton, Pinch, Packing House Inc., Twenty Creek Landscaping, Ward 3 Office, GALA.

571 Barton, transformed in 2023 

The Green Venture team alongside Hamilton Public Library staff, community members and volunteers planted over 380 of wonderful native species with fantastic names, including New Jersey Tea, black eyed Susan, hairy beardtongue and zigzag goldenrod. Visitors to the library can walk through a new garden path and witness bees, butterflies and other species enjoying this green space. Thank you to our funders and community partners: Hamilton Public Library, Barton Village BIA, Adele Pierre Landscape Architect, GALA Community Planning Team

Over the years, our team and amazing volunteers have worked to install thousands of trees and plants but keeping them clean and weed free has always been a challenge. In 2024, Green Venture worked with over 700 volunteers to complete community clean-ups and invasive species removals. We also partnered with businesses including Green Storage Solutions, Stryker, Westinghouse, and ArcelorMittal Dofasco who were instrumental in helping to complete various stewardship initiatives. 

2025 is the year we grow these partnerships and expand our reach to keep Hamilton clean. 

The Maintenance Challenge

While the initial excitement of planting and creating new green spaces often garners substantial community involvement, sustaining that enthusiasm for ongoing maintenance presents a significant challenge. Community members are eager to participate in planting events, but the less glamorous tasks of weeding, pruning, and monitoring plant health has much lower uptake. Without adequate support the quality and aesthetics of once thriving green spaces decline over time.

The Importance of Maintenance

Maintaining plants and trees is just as crucial as the initial planting. Regular upkeep ensures that these green spaces continue to provide environmental benefits such as stormwater management, air purification, and temperature regulation. Neglecting maintenance can lead to overgrown vegetation, invasive species proliferation, and ultimately, the deterioration of the ecosystem services these spaces provide. Unfortunately, without the right maintenance plan and volunteers in place, Green Venture cannot continue to add green spaces to Hamilton. That’s why we need your help! 

Here’s how volunteers can help the environment:

1. Mini Forests and Garden Monitoring: Take pictures and send them to us! Regular photo monitoring allows us to assess tree health, soil conditions, and biodiversity levels, ensuring that the green spaces continue to offer ecological benefits.
2. Litter Clean-Ups and Weeding: Join Green Venture or go out on your own to clean up various green spaces in Hamilton. We can provide all the supplies you need including gloves and garbage bags. Starting in 2025, you can pick up supplies from the Barton Library, Barton BIA, Pinch Bakery or EcoHouse (22 Veevers Dr). Sign up for a clean-up to get more details. 
3. Donate: Green Venture is a community-based not for profit organization that relies on grants and donations to operate. Your donations help us purchase supplies, pay staff a living wage, and support our operations. 
4. Business or group partnerships: Collaborating with local schools, businesses, and organizations helps us make a greater impact! More hands make light work. 

Looking Ahead

Green Venture remains committed to expanding Hamilton's green spaces and ensuring their sustainability. But for now, we need to focus on caring for the existing green spaces and developing partnerships to ensure their success. We invite all community members to join us in this ongoing journey to create a greener, healthier city for generations to come.