The messy thing that we like to call civilization is actually more like a coral reef, crawling with critters that camp out in our architectural nooks and crannies and make a pretty good living on our scraps. Those creatures, and natural spaces like parks, can have a profound influence on our lives and our urban culture, too. Join Grist as we explore the wild landscapes of our cities.
(Photograph by Kārlis Dambrāns)
A Grist Special Series
Urban jungle
Articles in this series:
Welcome to the urban jungle: Nature in cities is Grist’s July theme
This month, look at how nature gets into our cities and under our skin, even where we least expect it.
A mixtape love letter to the parks that birthed hip hop
Here are some great rap songs that celebrate the role of parks in city life and the history of hip hop.
An inner-city neighborhood rallies around a long-neglected park
In a down-and-out corner of Washington, D.C., kids cleaned up a local park. The adults followed, and now it’s a national example of urban renewal done right.
New show of guerrilla urbanism is both inspiring and a little creepy
Remember when DIY urbanism was frowned upon if not outright illegal? According to a new exhibition, guerrilla tactics have become symbols of American ingenuity and the rebirth of urban cool.
Climate change is making private heat islands for people of color
New research suggests that people of color are at a higher risk for extreme heat events.
Architect Jeanne Gang threads nature into urban landscapes
Gang is among the new generation of designers and urban planners who are working natural forms and habitat into a world of steel and concrete -- for nature's sake and for ours.
The littlest parks could make the biggest civic changes
San Francisco's parklets program stands to change its streets and the city's mindset.
Want to become an urban naturalist? Try trailing a toddler
When it comes to noticing the wild details in a mundane landscape, nobody does it like little people.
The tent is too damn high: Camping comes to the city
Call it roughing it or installation art, it’s all about getting out, while never leaving the city limits.
Bird’s-eye view: Why crows thrive in the urban jungle
With biodiversity on the wane, crows' prospects are inextricably linked with ours. Find out why in this video.
