A community space in Lawrence Heights is a little more aesthetically pleasing thanks to a group of youth who worked to beautify the area over six weeks this summer.
Through the city's annual TakeBAC program, some 200 youths cleaned up 26 sites across the city to create vibrant garden spaces.Of the 26 locations, three were selected - including 37 Varna Dr., near Lawrence Avenue and Allen Road, to receive an additional $300 in funding. The two other winning sites are downtown and in Scarborough. "We took an area in Lawrence Heights to beautify it, to make it more visible and nicer," said Teisha Mullings, a youth mentor for Toronto Community Housing Incorporated (TCHC). "The garden at 37 Varna Drive hasn't been used in a very long time so we worked on that site."Five youths, aged 15 to 16, assisted in clearing the back and front yards of weeds, digging up gardens, trimming trees, removing bushes, painting stones, planting flowers and adding a barbecue patio to the community space site, Mullings said. Each site was given $750 to work with and as one of the three winners, the area, Mullings said, will likely have the additional $300 used to plant daffodils on the property but a final decision hasn't been made. TakeBAC was supported in partnership with the City of Toronto, Evergreen Brick Works, TCHC and Starbucks Foundation, which funded the project through its Youth Action grant.