Unpaving the urban landscape is becoming more popular but also more practical helping to create calming and beautiful spaces re oxygenating the atmosphere, helping recharge stormwater these are only a few of the more important benefits urban green spaces can perform.  Below is a story of just such a project.

Every story has a beginning though sometimes it is an ending from another story or history.  From post war to the modern day our counrty has been changing rapidly and with great effect on us and the plants and animals we share the planet with.  The city grows and land is used and re used many times over.  More time spent in doors has led to problems like obesity and a sloth of the imagination.  The green space within a city defines how the city thinks.  Not only of its greenspace but of the living beings that occupy it.  It may be impossible to heal all ills with a garden but the sound of running water and scent of herbs has documented calming effects.  Why create gardens in the middle of a city you might ask?  If we leave the built environment of the past for ‘greener pastures’ we are creating dead spaces in our urban environment and within the greater context of the world.  The suburbs create even more waste in terms of commuting, over extending our power grids and sewer systems. This has many ill effects and not being a sociologist or any other ologist I will stick to what I know and that is working with the earth.  Above is a picture of an old commercial space that once occupied by two businesses and now is only remnant.  It is within a historical district of a town called Tarrant.  The City of Tarrant along with Mayor Tuck and Fire Cheif Hewitt have a vision of re creating their town center.  A collection of false front buildings made of brick, stucco and even stone adorn the area.  Not far away is Five mile creek which winds through the area and is part fo Tarrants watershed.  So the bones of the idea were there.  These green corridors exist all around the Birmingham metro area and are reminders of the natures path in the mdist of our developments.   Born of the steel industry heyday in Birmingham, Tarrant still has connections to its industrial past but is also a victim of urban sprawl. Infusing some new life into the old town is what we all had in mind.  Removing the old concrete has many benefits it removes an eyesore and makes way for a new landscape, it also changes the way water will behave in this area as we will install a garden that functions and is aesthetic.  Heat is also trapped in concrete and asphalt contributing to heat island effects.  Planting what was once a parking lot with trees shrubs and perennials will help mitigate this somewhat.

An excavator making quick work of the job.

Once cleared planning and installation can move forward, a water feature is marked out and materials begin arriving.  One of the main goals is to create a quiet space within the city center for relaxation and passive recreation.  Herbs and native plants will be used extensively in the planting scheme. 

Below granite curbstone from a streetscaping project was delivered by City trucks.  All in all about 20 tons of material was utilized.

This repurposing of materials retains some of the efforts of the past while utilizing it in new and creative ways.

A semi circular seating wall is constructed from the slabs  in the hot august sun.

Chert soil makes a good base for our landscaping as it packs well  and once coated with topsoil we can add plant materials and other layers of soil or landscaping.  The red clay soil holds moisture so as a base it does double duty conserving moisture.  Also of note are the historical buildings in the background.  Several artists live in the area.

The pond and seating wall  here a bubbling fountain will be visible from the road and sidewalks inviting visitors to stop and stay a while.

This image is a contrast of materials and also time space continuums.  In art it is common practice to take one thing and another and create something entirely unique from those disparate elements, the mixing of materials and choices, accidents but also being open to the possibilities within a situation, are all part of the equation but sometimes the solution turns out to be more than was expected.   End part1