What do you see? A street in need of repair, or an opportunity to plant flowers? A crack in the facade of impermeable surfaces? An invitation for life to take root?
In the environmental fantasy Ecotopia (1975, Ernest Callenbach), a reporter from the east coast has finally been allowed into Cascadia, long seceded from the United States. He writes about his first impressions of the transformed streets of San Francisco:
"Since practically the
whole street area is "sidewalk," nobody worries about obstructions - or
about the potholes which, as they develop in the pavement, are planted
with flowers."
One of my dearest dreams for Portland also shows up in Ecotopia:
"The bucolic atmosphere of the new San Francisco can perhaps best be seen in the fact that, down Market Street and some other streets, creeks now run. These had earlier, at great expense, been put into huge culverts underground, as is usual in cities. The Ecotopians spent even more to bring them up to ground level again. So now on this major boulevard you may see a charming series of little falls, with water gurgling and splashing, and channels lined with rocks, trees, bamboos, ferns. There even seem to be minnows in the water - though how they are kept safe from marauding children and cats, I cannot guess."
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