Krysta Boyer, volunteer co-ordinator at the Dundas Community Policing Centre, has developed a plan that would bring together police officers, policing centre volunteers, high school students, Dundas businesses and graffiti artists in a unique program.

“I think it would be a great project for the community,” Boyer said. “Dundas is a gorgeous town. Adding this bit is a good idea, I think.”

Dundas Community Council passed a motion supporting her effort.

Now Boyer is waiting for the go-ahead from the Hamilton Police Service. Once that comes through, two community forums will be held to bring together local graffiti artists and stakeholders, including business owners, police, service groups, educators and politicians.

The basic plan is to take a proactive, rather than reactive, stance on graffiti in Dundas. It would start with volunteer clean-up crews responding to illegal tagging and graffiti on residential, commercial and government property in the Valley Town.

But that’s not where the project ends.

Boyer envisions an urban art project that promotes the graffiti style and gives those artists a space to produce creations in the community.

Available wall space visible to the public that is considered appropriate could be used to create urban art murals. Boyer said when space is set aside for graffiti artists, it’s less likely to be defaced by vandalism.

She wants the project to involve high school students who need volunteer hours to graduate.

Boyer has already done plenty of planning, but said the two community forums will provide the groundwork for the Dundas Community Urban Art Project because that’s when stakeholders, volunteers and artists will provide their thoughts.

“It will be a brainstorming session to see the direction they’d like to see it take,” Boyer said.