Who participates in greening everyday urban space? Understanding community-led urban greening through the case of the Green Alleys of Montréal (Canada)

• Understanding who participates in and who uses community-led greenspace can help explain spatial patterns of greenspaces. • Income is not the most prevalent variable, but social ties prove to be significantly important. • Homeowners and families with children are positively associated with participation and usage. • Parking-owners are negatively associated with participation and usage. • University degree holders and some professional profiles have higher participation. Cities have increasingly been implementing greening initiatives in conjunction with residents and local community organizations, yet little is known about the household characteristics of people involved in greening small-scale and ordinary spaces. In this study, we investigate involvement in and uses of the Green Alleys of Montréal. These greening programs, originating with and maintained by residents, are not determined by city planning but rather by volunteers. We conducted a survey of residents (N = 400) living adjacent to 66 Green Alleys in one borough of the city. Between 20 % and 29 % of respondents were involved in vegetation planting, meetings, and Green Alley committees in the past, and are currently involved in maintenance. Walking and cycling, talking with neighbours, playing with children, and driving along alleys to park cars are the most frequent uses of Green Alleys. Common variables that are significant in involvement and usage include having children, being homeowners, and having alley-based friendships. Income is not the most important variable but, advanced levels of education, being part of a visible minority and parking-space ownership were of greater significance. This is because Green Alleys require no financial outlay from residents, but instead draw upon their skill sets, their sense of social cohesion, and their interests in long-term benefits. The Green Alley Programs are hence determined by localized social factors and raise questions about green space connectivity and who may not join the programs. We call for customizing the programs to address these questions, making the programs accessible for more neighbourhoods.