Last February, we featured this very plot of land as E for Environment on ABC Wednesday. This round, our Go Green Greensboro series, we're featuring the lot on the edge of Old Asheboro and next to Musicgarten as D for Dirt. The city lot, formerly a gas station on 1.3 acres of dirt at the corner of Lee and Arlington Streets, is about to become a park thanks to the Piedmont Land Conservancy. Last year, the land was in a "scruffy/limbo" state. Today, the natural setting park with a garden for children is about to become a reality. The fresh dirt above is the foundation for a great public space.
Kathy Treanor, Founder, Board of Advisors Member and first Executive Director of the Piedmont Land Conservancy, must be beaming. She has been working for years to see this conservation effort to fruition. Dirt may seem insignificant; however, clean dirt and good quality soil are paramount for producing good food. Dirt keeps humans connected to the earth. Dirt is an important habitat. Author Margaret Atwood says, "(i)n the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Well, soon, we will have a wonderful place in downtown Greensboro to allow our children to know what it is like to be clean, yet smell like dirt.
See our A-C Go Green Greensboro series, here. See ABC Wednesday around the world, here.
Sounds like a great idea. I hope the park gets plenty of use and people enjoy the green space.
Posted by: SRQ | Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 08:55 AM
creating a park? such a DANDY idea!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Posted by: Roger Green | Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 08:56 AM
You're right in tune with Google' Doodle today as they celebrate Mary Leakey, master digger.
Posted by: Jane Mitchell | Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Converting this space to a park is quite an achievement. Ridding the soil of toxic chemicals that usually come with gas station sites is hard and complicated work.
Posted by: Oakland Daily Photo | Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:46 PM
Such a basic thing - but what a dramatic contribution today! lol
Leslie
abcw team
Posted by: Leslie | Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 05:06 PM