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Magazine

September 1, 2013
By Cooper Langford

Article image with photo of Environment Network group

Dirty, dusty and neglected paved areas are more than urban eyesores; they also contribute to run-off, which is a major source of water pollution. In Collingwood, Ont., the local group Environment Network has come up with a novel idea for dealing with the blight. They’re working with volunteers to rip up an old paved lot at the offices of the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts and rehabilitate the area with native plants and a walking path made of permeable materials. The process is called “de-paving.” Environment Network program coordinator Stephanie Hardy explains how it works — and the promise it holds.

How did you come up with the de-pave idea for a local project?

Our project was born in partnership with Green Communities Canada, which is running a multi-community pilot project modelled on depave.org out of Portland, Ore. We all know there’s a problem with unnecessary pavement. Paved surfaces contribute to storm-water pollution. Rain water carries contaminated urban pollutants to local streams, rivers and other bodies of water, greatly degrading water quality and aquatic habitats. Pavement also disconnects us from our natural world. So for us, the solution seems clear. Removing unnecessary impervious pavements will reduce storm-water pollution and increase the amount of land available for habitat restoration, trees and native vegetation, which will provide our community with greater exposure to the natural world. What is the current status of the site you selected? We recently held an event where community members came out and used their hands and elbow grease to help lift and remove the asphalt from the 32-square-metre area. In the coming weeks, we will be laying hydromedia, a permeable pavement made by Lafarge, for our walkways. We’ll also be bringing in soil, trees and native plants to finish the space.

What’s your vision for the project when it’s complete?

We hope this space will be a little bit of paradise in a parking lot. We want this space to show the community how easy it is to transform asphalt into a natural, inviting space that also benefits our environment and helps protect our waterways.

What is the process for a project like this?

This project was unique — it was our first de-pave in Collingwood. There have been a few bumps, but the process has gone smoothly overall. We approached the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts and proposed our idea. The foundation took the idea to their board and got approval. From there we had to design the space, take soil samples and have them tested, do a water filtration test to make sure the water could be absorbed into the soil at a specific rate, and cut a grid into the asphalt so that there would be manageable pieces for participants to lift and handle.

Once the pavement is physically removed, we have to prep the specific areas for pouring the hydromedia. That takes a few days to cure, and then we are ready for soil and plantings. This project could take anywhere from four to six weeks, but we chose to take it really slowly. Change like this takes time.

Are you considering new projects?

Yes. Always. We are looking for another depave project in the area. So if there is a business or organization in the South Georgian Bay area that is interested, give us a call.

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Reprinted from Canadian Wildlife magazine. Get more information or subscribe now! Now on newsstands! Or, get your digital edition today!