![@P. Whelen auf Unsplash Alleyway in Melbourne @P. Whelen on Unsplash](https://interlace-hub.com/sites/default/files/styles/free_crop/public/pat-whelen-x6Q2s6Ic0pc-unsplash.jpg?itok=1rRMDA17&c=b3d8f0808e977a45b29621341ed66603)
In 2016, the city of Melbourne in Australia published the Green Your Laneway (GYL) Program to increase urban greenery in the city's smaller laneways as a means to address challenges such as urban heat island effects and flood management and to improve the health and well-being of local residents. Complementing the city's Urban Forest Strategy for greening major streets, the program foresees (1) green laneways which feature vertical gardens, trees, or planter boxes, (2) the enhancement of grey infrastructure, and (3) the creation of pedestrian and seating areas. Until now, a pilot project has been implemented to transform four laneways. Local communities can suggest laneways in their neighborhood that they would like to see transformed. To facilitate this and ensure ownership and involvement of local citizens, the City of Melbourne together with social innovation agency Today and international design, engineering and business consultancy Arup developed a step-by-step guidance for greening the city's laneways available on a dedicated website ( https://www.greenlaneways.org/ ). The city administration has also set up an interactive tool that includes a map to show laneways that could go green, based on the amount of sunlight they receive, exposure to wind and physical characteristics. The tool also provides information on different nature-based solutions that can be implemented in these laneways.