Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods

GreenUP’s Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods (SUN) program is a collaborative, neighbourhood-based approach to sustainable renewal and climate action. SUN joins neighbourhood residents, municipalities, and other community partners to identify and support opportunities for sustainability through immediate demonstrative impacts, visioning and planning for future action, and the sharing of skills and knowledge.

Between 2017 and May 2020, SUN co-designed Neighbourhood Action Plans for East City-Curtis Creek and Kawartha Heights, brought the SUN model to the rural Hamlet of Warsaw, hosted educational events, and installed dozens of inspiring on-the-ground demonstration projects. Local residents and partners, including GreenUP, will continue to work together to achieve the Action Plan targets by 2030. We encourage you to review your Neighbourhood Action Plan and get started today! Every action counts.

Use the tabs below to access resources and the SUN Reporting Tool. Click here to find your Neighbourhood Action Plan.

Resources and Reporting Tools

Once you’ve reviewed your Neighbourhood Action Plan, check out these additional resources:

Our SUN Resident Guide provides more information about actions you can take at home.
Are you planting a garden? Consult our Sustainable Planting Guide for support.
Contact us for more information on related working groups and neighbourhood-specific projects.

Have you completed an action? Log it here using our SUN Reporting Tool.

SUN Reporting Tool >

Neighbourhood Action Plans

Click the links below to access the Action Plans and learn what has already been achieved in your neighbourhood!

Program History

In 2017, SUN launched in the City of Peterborough, working within two urban neighbourhoods: Kawartha Heights and East City-Curtis Creek. Between 2017 and 2019, GreenUP collaborated with the City of Peterborough, neighbourhood residents, Otonabee Conservation, Nourish, and other partners. Funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), the three-year Grow Grant allowed GreenUP to successfully test the SUN model in a mid-sized city. Together, we have completed two Neighbourhood Action Plans, and planted more than 1700 square metres of demonstration trees and gardens. In May 2020, our OTF Grow Grant ended.

In 2019, SUN launched in the Hamlet of Warsaw due to its comparable size. Focusing on the sustainability to stormwater (rain) and water quality, SUN Warsaw will be the first rural community to pilot the model and will be a prime example of how a rural community can advance sustainable renewal and climate action. Thank you to RBC Environment Fund for funding that has made this project possible.

SUN is modelled after the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP). SNAP helps municipalities and organizations improve efficiencies, draw strong local community support, and build innovative partnerships for implementation of a broad range of initiatives in the public and private realms. By reframing environmental projects to incorporate greater social and economic outcomes, SNAP has helped to generate creative solution that garner more support for implementation.

Links and Contact Information

Links

Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods Brochure

Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP)

Peterborough Examiner: SUN Shines in Peterborough

Peterborough Examiner: Greening Peterborough Neighbourhoods

KawarthaNow: History can teach us important lessons about urban nature in an era of climate change

KawarthaNow: GreenUP program aims to protect the Indian River and reduce flood risk in Warsaw

Program Contact Information

To learn more about SUN and how you can get involved, please contact:

Heather Ray
Water Programs Manager
Phone: 705-745-3238 ext. 204
Email: heather.ray@greenup.on.ca

Program History

In 2017, SUN launched in City of Peterborough, working within two urban neighbourhoods, Peterborough’s Kawartha Heights and East City-Curtis Creek neighbourhoods. Between 2017 and 2019, SUN Kawartha Heights, and SUN East City-Curtis Creek, collaborated with the City of Peterborough, neighbourhood residents, Otonabee Conservation, Nourish, and other partners. Funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation, the three year Grow Grant has allowed GreenUP to successfully test the SUN model within a mid-sized City. Together, SUN Kawartha Heights, and SUN East City-Curtis Creek have planted 1600 metres squared, or over 17,000 square feet, of demonstration gardens and trees. This area is equal to 3 ¾ basketball courts!

In 2019, SUN launched in the Hamlet of Warsaw, piloting the rural community as a neighbourhood due to its comparable size. Focusing on the sustainability of storm water (rain) and water quality, SUN Warsaw will be the first rural community to pilot the model and will be a prime example of how a rural community can advance sustainable renewal and climate action. Thank you to RBC Environment Fund for funding toward this project.

SUN is modelled after the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP) program. SNAP helps municipalities and organizations improve efficiencies, draw strong local community support, and build innovative partnerships for implementation of a broad range of initiatives in the public and private realms. By reframing environmental projects to incorporate greater social and economic outcomes, SNAP has helped to generate creative solutions that garner more support for implementation.