The LA Weekly has a good article about recent efforts to restore the LA River (yes, LA has a river. Part of Terminator 2 was filmed there). In 1938, as part of flood-control measures, the vegetation was bulldozed and concrete was poured over the banks and riverbed. Most storm-drains empty into the river, which then carries the trash, waste, and toxic chemicals into the Pacific.

Now the city wants to restore it. They want to plant vegetation along the banks, clean the water, and remove some of the concrete. Parks and bike paths will also be built along the river. They\’re hoping this will be the start of a whole network of greenbelts and bikeways throughout the city.

I hope this plan goes through. It\’d be great to have a real river running through LA, a place where we can relax, stroll alongside, and just hang out. There aren\’t enough public spaces in LA.