In co springs, we have Palmer Park and Austin Bluffs open space, two large hiking options in the midst of sprawl, without even considering the mountains. Of course also Garden of the Gods, plus Ute Valley, both rugged and great hiking. Then there’s Bear Creek Regional, which has hiking, pavilions, ballfields, playgrounds, and more. And plenty more great parks throughout, great and small. It’s one big reason i enjoy this city.
Unfortunately Dallas is not known for the same things, but it also isn’t blessed with interesting topography. Of course Dallas didn’t help itself when the army corps of engineers straightened its river and killed natural habitats that gave the city a geographic sense of place. Now engineers are looking at how they can reverse their own damage on the Trinity River and build parks along the river at the same time. The most livable cities are both walkable and integrated with nature. Sounds like you might have both to a degree
I’m grateful to be living in a city - Canberra - that was designed with the outdoors in mind, centered around a park-lined lake with views everywhere to the mountains. We’re known as the bush capital. In most suburbs, housing is on the side of hills and valleys, leaving the tops of hills not for the richest folks, but for communal nature reserves and parks for all to enjoy.
It’s a lovely city. Sadly, it also gets bagged out incessantly for being a city full of public servants (it was a planned city to be the capital of Australia - picked because it was half-way between Sydney and Melbourne. They damned a river to make the lake.) So, half responding to geography and landscape, and half trying to master it.
We are always changing the environment around us, especially in engineering and construction, but the question is what ways are appropriate. It will probably take some time before answers to those questions are clear. We only just recently started taking a hard look at our own habitats as part of a systematic ecology
I suppose you're right. There aer other animals that move the environment around to suit their needs. Bower birds come to mind. And those fish who make big mounds to bury their eggs in.
Fascinating article. Your point about private property leading to isolation from the community has a connection with Ebenezer Howard's early ideas. As well as parks and nature, his vision for the garden city included an alternative economic model in which the land would be collectively owned by the community so that increases in its value would be used for the benefit of the community. His hope was that this would foster a strong ethos of civic solidarity and human connection. He tried to implement this model at his first garden city at Letchworth just north of London (with mixed success).
I like that idea. I just came across Ebenezer Howard in researching this, but I want to read more about his concept and collective land ownership. I wonder if over generations many cities could be converted into Garden Cities. It seems like a beautiful model that has only been tepidly attempted a few times. None of the attempted Garden Cities seem to have the urban density that Howard described, which kills a city’s walkability.
Maybe it's just my algorithm but I think we have momentum. It matters who's in office, but we can start anywhere, and people are always looking to invest in their communities.
Reading your post reminded me of Jane Jacobs's The Death and Life of Great American Cities, which I love. She speaks of what municipalities can do to make cities livable (i.e., walkable), but she also speaks about what we can do as citizens to make changes to our specific corners of the city. It heartens me to read your article.
I know of a church in Arlington, Virginia that sold their old church building to make way for affordable housing. After the sale, they had a couple of parcels from the original land left over and were considering selling them on the open market. But after consultation with the community, they made the property into a lovely green space for the community to use. They meet in rented space in the new affordable housing building and maintain the green space themselves. This process took years of hard work by church members and those supporting them. I so admire their heart for the community around them.
We've had a couple of Better Block events here in Greensboro, which may have helped move the needle on narrowing Elm St and adding outdoor seating for restaurants. Not much nature there, though.
I've personally been involved with the gPg, building gardens (not parks) that combine flowers and fruit. Occasionally I can squeeze in something wild, but mostly for pollinators or birds. https://greensboropermacultureguild.wordpress.com/
I believe that integrated nature is the city in its final form, but Better Block and other urbanists employ lots of techniques that will get us there by undoing the damage that car-dependent culture has done
Romans 8 describes all of creation groaning like a women about to give birth, waiting for humanity to serves as midwife. I like that picture...and your article...
In co springs, we have Palmer Park and Austin Bluffs open space, two large hiking options in the midst of sprawl, without even considering the mountains. Of course also Garden of the Gods, plus Ute Valley, both rugged and great hiking. Then there’s Bear Creek Regional, which has hiking, pavilions, ballfields, playgrounds, and more. And plenty more great parks throughout, great and small. It’s one big reason i enjoy this city.
Unfortunately Dallas is not known for the same things, but it also isn’t blessed with interesting topography. Of course Dallas didn’t help itself when the army corps of engineers straightened its river and killed natural habitats that gave the city a geographic sense of place. Now engineers are looking at how they can reverse their own damage on the Trinity River and build parks along the river at the same time. The most livable cities are both walkable and integrated with nature. Sounds like you might have both to a degree
I’m grateful to be living in a city - Canberra - that was designed with the outdoors in mind, centered around a park-lined lake with views everywhere to the mountains. We’re known as the bush capital. In most suburbs, housing is on the side of hills and valleys, leaving the tops of hills not for the richest folks, but for communal nature reserves and parks for all to enjoy.
I love that, a city nested in its own geography. It sounds like a good design!
It’s a lovely city. Sadly, it also gets bagged out incessantly for being a city full of public servants (it was a planned city to be the capital of Australia - picked because it was half-way between Sydney and Melbourne. They damned a river to make the lake.) So, half responding to geography and landscape, and half trying to master it.
We are always changing the environment around us, especially in engineering and construction, but the question is what ways are appropriate. It will probably take some time before answers to those questions are clear. We only just recently started taking a hard look at our own habitats as part of a systematic ecology
I suppose you're right. There aer other animals that move the environment around to suit their needs. Bower birds come to mind. And those fish who make big mounds to bury their eggs in.
Fascinating article. Your point about private property leading to isolation from the community has a connection with Ebenezer Howard's early ideas. As well as parks and nature, his vision for the garden city included an alternative economic model in which the land would be collectively owned by the community so that increases in its value would be used for the benefit of the community. His hope was that this would foster a strong ethos of civic solidarity and human connection. He tried to implement this model at his first garden city at Letchworth just north of London (with mixed success).
I like that idea. I just came across Ebenezer Howard in researching this, but I want to read more about his concept and collective land ownership. I wonder if over generations many cities could be converted into Garden Cities. It seems like a beautiful model that has only been tepidly attempted a few times. None of the attempted Garden Cities seem to have the urban density that Howard described, which kills a city’s walkability.
A very inspiring article and we do have to build & create liveable futures .
Maybe it's just my algorithm but I think we have momentum. It matters who's in office, but we can start anywhere, and people are always looking to invest in their communities.
Reading your post reminded me of Jane Jacobs's The Death and Life of Great American Cities, which I love. She speaks of what municipalities can do to make cities livable (i.e., walkable), but she also speaks about what we can do as citizens to make changes to our specific corners of the city. It heartens me to read your article.
I know of a church in Arlington, Virginia that sold their old church building to make way for affordable housing. After the sale, they had a couple of parcels from the original land left over and were considering selling them on the open market. But after consultation with the community, they made the property into a lovely green space for the community to use. They meet in rented space in the new affordable housing building and maintain the green space themselves. This process took years of hard work by church members and those supporting them. I so admire their heart for the community around them.
More church funds should go towards this type of work. What a cool story and use of land.
We've had a couple of Better Block events here in Greensboro, which may have helped move the needle on narrowing Elm St and adding outdoor seating for restaurants. Not much nature there, though.
I've personally been involved with the gPg, building gardens (not parks) that combine flowers and fruit. Occasionally I can squeeze in something wild, but mostly for pollinators or birds. https://greensboropermacultureguild.wordpress.com/
I believe that integrated nature is the city in its final form, but Better Block and other urbanists employ lots of techniques that will get us there by undoing the damage that car-dependent culture has done
Romans 8 describes all of creation groaning like a women about to give birth, waiting for humanity to serves as midwife. I like that picture...and your article...
Thank you, Jonathan! Right relationship with the earth is an essential part of the coming age of peace and prosperity we all hope for.