A much-loved Vancouver pathway just got a colourful makeover

A colourful makeover has brought new life to a quiet stretch of Vancouver’s Arbutus Greenway, and residents are loving it.

Painted by two local urban designers with help from more than 40 volunteers, the colourful path now invites people to skip, stroll, and play their way through the neighbourhood.

The mural is full of hopscotch paths, bees, flowers, butterflies, and it was all created “by the community, for the community.”

The artists behind it, Indu Shaji and Nishi Praveen Kumar, walk the Greenway often and wanted to bring more life to a part of the path that felt a little plain.

“It’s a beautiful place, but after a while, it felt a bit repetitive,” Nishi told Daily Hive.

“One day we saw chalk drawings from kids and thought, what if we made something permanent, something playful?”

From idea to paintbrushes

The mural took about two months from start to finish.

After getting support through the City of Vancouver’s Community Placemaking Program grant, the artists asked people who use the Greenway what they’d like to see.

According to Indu, many said they wanted something colourful and fun. Some wanted to slow down speedy bikes. Others simply wanted the path to feel more like a shared backyard.

That’s how “Play the Way” came to life, a mural that encourages people to stop, play, and enjoy the little things.

“Someone told us this path feels like their backyard,” said Nishi. “We wanted to honour that feeling.”

All hands (and paws) on deck

Neighbours from the area showed up to paint, along with people from Surrey, Coquitlam, and Langley.

Families, seniors, bikers, and kids all pitched in. Some came for a few minutes. Others stayed all day.

Nishi told Daily Hive, “A little girl asked to paint a ladybug. A community member helped fix a wonky letter. One person who loves murals even came back to help with the design.”

“It was joyful chaos,” said Indu. “Everyone brought their own creativity, and it made the mural even more special.”

What’s next?

Thanks to all the love for “Play the Way,” more murals could be coming soon.

Community gardens along the Arbutus Greenway have already reached out with interest, and both artists have more art events planned this summer.

You can catch Nishi at Gastown Pedestrian Days on July 27, and she will also be part of a big art-and-music day at Punjabi Market Plaza on Aug. 10.

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