45 Small City Natural Environment • Feature • Resilience Park invasive plant material had already been removed. The appearance of the site was akin to any mowed-grass field. There was small debris which could have blown in from nearby streets or garbage cans, but it was clear that most of the intentional refuse dumping had ceased, and the space was already in motion towards a state of reclamation. I personally didn’t get a sense of the severity of the lot’s historical use as a dumping site until I started digging to install our nature journaling bench. Beneath the soil surface were many layers of plastic debris and broken bottles. I think that shows how misuse of a space can both compound and linger over time, until the cycle is disrupted in some way. The Catalyst for Action Kevin Lahoda Reclaiming urban green space often requires a combination of financial resources and long-term political and social commitments. What were the key conditions — people, funding, or timing — that made it possible to move from a neglected lot to an organized effort? Maggie Wallner All of those factors have been critical! I really feel like we approached The City with a decent plan at an opportune time. There had just been this massive time and energy investment in the space with the previously mentioned cleanup, and installing some nature-based park features was one way to keep that positive momentum going! I think it was key that decision-makers from all organizations involved possessed the vision to recognize that. We received letters of support from The City and The EAC which assisted our access to much-needed funding from The Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation
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