*IMPORTANT CITY ANNOUNCEMENT*
September 30, 2026
City Council elected Michael C. Price as Mayor at the September 30, 2026 Meeting. Please see the post below with more details on the transition.

Alley of the Future

Alleys have long served to provide access to properties, conduits for the provision of city services, and informal gathering and play spaces. The Alley of the Future project asks community members to help us envision dynamic and community-building ways to better use the alleys that service approximately half of Bexley's homes.

If your block is interested in participating in an Alley of the Future alley makeover, let us know! AOTF projects are selected based on block buy-in and on timing of other city projects.

City staff will work with the interested blocks to develop project scope and timing. Interested in learning more? Contact Alley Czar Natalie Vawter to get the conversation started!

Alley of the Future Project Staff

Alley Czar:
Natalie Vawter, Office of the Mayor

Application Process

So you'd like to submit your alley for the Alley of the Future consideration!

We recommend you watch the launch workshop video to get a good feel of the process involved.

The steps to applying for the competition include:

  1. Contact City Staff to let us know you're interested. Staff contact is included on this page; the first step is to let staff know you're interested, and have an initial conversation with them going over the process to work on an Alley of the Future concept.
  2. Create a concept! Our workshops serve as a resource you can use, but inspiration for your Alley of the Future concepts can come from you, your neighbors, and/or any sources you wish to draw from.
  3. Work with your neighbors to socialize your concept and make any changes/additions/subtractions based upon feedback you receive.
  4. Circulate an application petition, to make sure that alley neighbors are aware of the application and are on board with the plan being proposed. Applications need at least 75% approval from alley properties in order to be considered.
  5. Complete the application online and contact City staff to let them know it's been submitted!  Complete applications include a submitted concept, a completed petition, and narrative details submitted on the application form.

Guiding Principals to Consider

A successful Alley of the Future contender will help us address challenges and opportunities around:

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
What changes to alley infrastructure and alley features can be made to address stormwater handling, native plantings and pollinators, light pollution, air quality, etc?

SAFETY
Are there ways to encourage safer alley environments for all users?

COMMUNITY BUILDING
How can alleys be designed to encourage social interaction, active play, physical fitness, etc?

MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION
How can alleys better accommodate a variety of transportation modes, including vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian, etc?

PROVISION OF CITY SERVICES
How can we more effectively provide City services through alleys?

ARTS AND CULTURAL CONNECTIVITY
How can alleys provide a canvas for artistic expression and cultural connectivity?

BEAUTIFICATION
What efforts can be made to encourage naturally and architectural beautiful, tidy alley environments?

A Few Project Examples