The Vision Takes Root
In 2019, the residents of New Hamburg, Ontario, decided they’d had enough of concrete. Their “Depave Paradise” project transformed underused pavement surrounding the town’s historic fountain into thriving green space, complete with a new tree supported by RootSpace.
Looking at historical photos of their downtown, they could see what had been lost over the decades. “You look at some of the older pictures of downtown New Hamburg, and how it was very lush. Over time, things got paved over. And now we’re heading back into that direction,” reflected Joe Figliomeni, past president of the New Hamburg Board of Trade.
Led by the New Hamburg Board of Trade and powered by dozens of community volunteers, this project addressed multiple urban challenges: stormwater management, urban heat reduction, and downtown revitalization.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
The Vision Takes Root
In 2019, the residents of New Hamburg, Ontario, decided they’d had enough of concrete. Their “Depave Paradise” project transformed underused pavement surrounding the town’s historic fountain into thriving green space, complete with a new tree supported by RootSpace.
Looking at historical photos of their downtown, they could see what had been lost over the decades. “You look at some of the older pictures of downtown New Hamburg, and how it was very lush. Over time, things got paved over. And now we’re heading back into that direction,” reflected Joe Figliomeni, past president of the New Hamburg Board of Trade.
Led by the New Hamburg Board of Trade and powered by dozens of community volunteers, this project addressed multiple urban challenges: stormwater management, urban heat reduction, and downtown revitalization.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
I think this is the beginning of a very good long-term goal of utilizing our park spaces, looking at our streetscapes, planting more trees.
The Hidden Problem Beneath
But successful urban greening requires more than enthusiasm and shovels. Here’s what most people don’t realize about urban soil: after years of supporting pavement, it becomes nearly as hard as concrete itself. It gets compacted into an impermeable layer that tree roots can’t penetrate, and water can’t infiltrate. Plant a tree directly into this dead zone, and you’ve essentially sentenced it to a slow death.
This is where the New Hamburg project became a case study in doing depaving right. Working with GreenBlue Urban, the community installed a RootSpace soil cell system to supplement their new green space. These cells create structured voids filled with high-quality growing medium, giving tree roots room to spread while maintaining the structural integrity needed to support pedestrian traffic above.
The system included root barriers to protect nearby infrastructure and RootRain irrigation system to ensure the trees would thrive through establishment and drought periods. GreenBlue Urban donated part of the system, recognizing the project’s potential as a model for other communities.
Community Power in Action
What made this project special wasn’t just the technical innovation. It was the community that drove it forward. Volunteers showed up with tools and determination, making what could have been a municipal maintenance project into a community celebration.
“A project like this brings out people who want to make a difference,” Figliomeni observed. Gina Ruttan, past president of the Board of Trade, was struck by the collaborative spirit: “We partnered with a lot of great organizations to help make this happen and our community has been really supportive of it…that’s really exciting to see that our vision coincides with what the community wants as well.”
The transformation was immediately visible. Where visitors once encountered endless concrete and pavestones, they now found shade, green space, and a more welcoming downtown atmosphere.
Watch the depaving process in this video from Reep Green Solutions
I think this is the beginning of a very good long-term goal of utilizing our park spaces, looking at our streetscapes, planting more trees.
The Hidden Problem Beneath
But successful urban greening requires more than enthusiasm and shovels. Here’s what most people don’t realize about urban soil: after years of supporting pavement, it becomes nearly as hard as concrete itself. It gets compacted into an impermeable layer that tree roots can’t penetrate, and water can’t infiltrate. Plant a tree directly into this dead zone, and you’ve essentially sentenced it to a slow death.
This is where the New Hamburg project became a case study in doing depaving right. Working with GreenBlue Urban, the community installed a RootSpace soil cell system to supplement their new green space. These cells create structured voids filled with high-quality growing medium, giving tree roots room to spread while maintaining the structural integrity needed to support pedestrian traffic above.
The system included root barriers to protect nearby infrastructure and RootRain irrigation system to ensure the trees would thrive through establishment and drought periods. GreenBlue Urban donated part of the system, recognizing the project’s potential as a model for other communities.
Community Power in Action
What made this project special wasn’t just the technical innovation. It was the community that drove it forward. Volunteers showed up with tools and determination, making what could have been a municipal maintenance project into a community celebration.
“A project like this brings out people who want to make a difference,” Figliomeni observed. Gina Ruttan, past president of the Board of Trade, was struck by the collaborative spirit: “We partnered with a lot of great organizations to help make this happen and our community has been really supportive of it…that’s really exciting to see that our vision coincides with what the community wants as well.”
The transformation was immediately visible. Where visitors once encountered endless concrete and pavestones, they now found shade, green space, and a more welcoming downtown atmosphere.
Watch the depaving process in this video from Reep Green Solutions
Stormwater that once rushed into drains now filters naturally through the soil. The new trees provide shade and cooling, while creating habitat for urban wildlife. Most importantly, the project proved that proper green infrastructure combined with community enthusiasm can create lasting change.
For communities considering similar projects, New Hamburg’s experience offers clear guidance: start with soil science, build genuine community ownership, and partner strategically. Removing pavement is only half the battle. Proper root zone engineering determines whether trees thrive for decades or struggle for a few seasons.
Growing Forward
The project established New Hamburg as a community willing to act for environmental improvement, setting the stage for future green infrastructure initiatives throughout the town. As Meredith Hagen, owner of Meme’s Café, put it: “I think this is the beginning of a very good long-term goal of utilizing our park spaces, looking at our streetscapes, planting more trees.”
The fountain at Huron and Peel Streets now anchors a downtown that residents can be proud of: green, welcoming, and environmentally functional. For communities looking to “depave”, New Hamburg proves that, with the right combination of community spirit and technical know-how, nature and urban living can exist simultaneously.
Stormwater that once rushed into drains now filters naturally through the soil. The new trees provide shade and cooling, while creating habitat for urban wildlife. Most importantly, the project proved that proper green infrastructure combined with community enthusiasm can create lasting change.
For communities considering similar projects, New Hamburg’s experience offers clear guidance: start with soil science, build genuine community ownership, and partner strategically. Removing pavement is only half the battle. Proper root zone engineering determines whether trees thrive for decades or struggle for a few seasons.
Growing Forward
The project established New Hamburg as a community willing to act for environmental improvement, setting the stage for future green infrastructure initiatives throughout the town. As Meredith Hagen, owner of Meme’s Café, put it: “I think this is the beginning of a very good long-term goal of utilizing our park spaces, looking at our streetscapes, planting more trees.”
The fountain at Huron and Peel Streets now anchors a downtown that residents can be proud of: green, welcoming, and environmentally functional. For communities looking to “depave”, New Hamburg proves that, with the right combination of community spirit and technical know-how, nature and urban living can exist simultaneously.
