Downtown outdoor spaces

[danbrotherston]

I think there is a place for both...but what would be a problem is overgrowing the bench and trail...

I would strongly disagree that plants encroaching on our trails is more of a problem than the absence of habitats, leading to insect population collapse. Obviously this few meters of plants is minuscule in the bigger picture, but 1) our city should lead by example and 2) every bit truly counts.

I'm obviously not an ecologist, so maybe I'm just way off base here, but that's why I came here to ask a question. I just feel a bit fired up by this, sustainability issues aside, because our current urban built environment genuinely disgusts me, and I have to step outside into it every day.

Well you and I absolutely agree on that. I'd becurious to know the policies in The Netherlands.  They seem to have highly manicured spaces that are also wild. I don't know how they achieve that.