Albany, New York
Wilbur Woods
![The City of Albany . . . Love Your Block grants [are made possible] through Cities of Service and Johns Hopkins University with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Started in 2009, Love Your Block has been implemented in various cities across the](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c87b64056e6416bc9fe888/1688325301586-U6YXWV5U4D8AJK7H6GS1/WILBUR.JPG)
The City of Albany . . . Love Your Block grants [are made possible] through Cities of Service and Johns Hopkins University with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Started in 2009, Love Your Block has been implemented in various cities across the country, from Phoenix, Arizona to El Paso, Texas to Birmingham, Alabama and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Simple draft design that started the process.
Documenting project progress via 2D design work.
Site was overgrown and littered with trash and debris prior to project starting.
Retaining wall to stabilize site under construction.
Wildflower meadow with natives and beneficial plants establishing.
Preparation site work in progress.
Native pollinator garden designed by Kate Brittenham of Front Stoop Gardens. The garden was gifted to the project and installed by Home Earth Alliance as a collaborator.
Many bulbs were planted to delineate pathways and to bring beauty to the neighborhood.
Large amounts of compost and soil were added behind retaining wall to level off the site.
Projects contributors as of December 2024. If you think you have something to contribute to the project, please join the fun and reach out today!
This project was made possible through a competitive grant award process, and all the labor on the ground (ours included) was made possible through volunteerism, and a true community effort.
Sunray Sustainability was honored to be a community volunteer on this project. We provided site analysis, draft ecological design and 2D rendering, project sustainability goals, and helped lead volunteer efforts as this lot moves forward through its transformation. We also provided construction and implementation of various aspects of the project. We were humbled to be among the awarded group of community members who were aiming to bring more biodiversity and ecological resilience to their neighborhood.
Site Design Goals
Adding a small pond to enhance biodiversity, support wildlife, and capture and store water.
Prevent future site erosion with the addition of a retaining wall at the base of the site, and back fill with soil to appropriate height prior to planting.
Addition of bird and bat houses, bug hotels, and other habitat to support nonhuman life.
Planting native and beneficial wildflowers and plants to once again increase site biodiversity and ecological resilience.
The addition of fruit trees and shrubs.
Build a team of community stakeholders to maintain and care for the site.
PROJECT CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS!
More information and pictures to follow!