Louv: Part VI: Section 19: Cities Gone Wild

In a section of Part 6 of Last Child in the Woods, Louv talks about greener cities. He discusses the idea of restoring cities back to their natural states and conserving the nature within them. He brings up some ideas for cities in the United States, but not Philadelphia. After visiting many places within Fairmount Park these few weeks, I think Philly is doing okay as a city. However, I think Center City specifically can still be more transformed into what Louv calls "Green Urbanism." We can make sure all of the species of flora in our city are native and not exotic invasives. Guidelines can be set so that within so many feet or miles of land, there is a required amount of natural area. For example, within every 15 square blocks, one full block would have to be an area of nature. These areas would have to be lush, not just huge patches of [exotic] grass. This would allow a place for kids to learn and play, create cleaner air, and would bring the natural world back to the city.

In the same section, however, Louv discusses the idea of a Zoopolis. After watching a sad baby squirrel almost get hit by a car near Rittenhouse Park this weekend, I do not think Philly needs to be stocked with any animals. If the animals that would have naturally been in this area weren't pushed out while the city was being built up, they would have all died by now. Deer could not survive anywhere in Center City, even with a bit more blocks of 'nature' and less exotic species of plants. With how many cars are always on the roads, deer can hardly survive in the suburbs. Deer serve as just one simple example. Small squirrels have trouble and rats only make it because they live mostly underground. The point is that without completely taking down the entire city, there is no way for animals that would have typically lived in this area to thrive. Fortunately, in beautiful areas like the Wissahickon, we can make up for our inability to house any large wildlife within the [center] city, creating a balance and helping to restore the damage made by humans.