Aldershot's waterfront park now has a portrait on the neighbourhood's main street. Local artist Sarah Carlson of Living Murals has hand-painted a mural of LaSalle Park on an outside wall of LaSalle Park Retirement Community, 18 Plains Road West, framing a view across the water toward the bridge.
The Aldershot Village BIA calls the mural its latest addition to the streetscape and a tribute to the park. A business improvement area is a local business group that spends on promoting and sprucing up its strip; Aldershot's was set up in December 2004 and works on behalf of about 250 retailers and service professionals.
It isn't Carlson's first work for the group. She also created Rooted in Aldershot, a public art installation outside the DOT Patio at 157 Plains Road East. The BIA has also hung new banners along the strip with messages such as "Welcome to Aldershot" and "Eat • Shop • Play."
Storefronts are getting attention too, through the BIA's Keep Aldershot Beautiful program, which helps local businesses improve their fronts. Bulk Food Warehouse has a new sign and Salon 360 has upgraded its entrance. At Nail Pro Studio & Spa, staff added a bench outside after noticing some senior customers preferred to wait outdoors for their rides.
The BIA's next big event on the street is the annual Aldershot Village Tree Lighting, Saturday, Nov. 21, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
