Let Us Now Praise Vacant Lots: Commoners work to keep these vital places in the public realm

from OnTheCommons.org:



Let Us Now Praise Vacant Lots
Commoners work to keep these vital places in the public realm

June 9, 2012 | by Jay Walljasper


It’s easy to talk about the importance of the commons in grand terms— vast stretches of breathtaking wilderness, publicly funded advances in science and technology, essential cultural and civic institutions, the air and water which we all depend on for survival.

But let’s not forget the lowly commons all around that enliven and enrich our lives. Things like sidewalks, playgrounds, community gardens, murals, neighborhood hang-outs, and vacant lots. Especially vacant lots.

Modern society’s obsession with efficiency, productivity and purposefulness sometimes blind us to the epic possibilities of empty spaces that aren’t serving any profitable economic function. The word “vacant” itself implies that these places are devoid of value.

But think back to all the imaginative uses you could discover for vacant land as a kid. In my neighborhood we squeezed a baseball diamond, 6-hole golf course, horseshoe pit and vegetable garden (right behind the third base line) into the lot behind my house. My dad mowed the expanse of weeds every week, but it belonged to every kid in the neighborhood. All summer long, we’d gather there after breakfast to plot our adventures for the day. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://onthecommons.org/magazine/let-us-now-praise-vacant-lots