How green are we, or how neighborly
(in which the columnist vents)

Here in the bluest part of our blue state, where recycling is a given, we just assume that we're green by any measure, right? And it goes without saying that we're all for pedestrian safety, too. Well, let's look again at these assumptions and at some problems in our community that usually go unnoticed.

Open spaces = Cleaner air & water

By open spaces I mean our parks and gardens, the spots that contribute to our tree canopy, provide for wildlife, and let us and our kids interact with nature. And how are they holding up in our budgeting process? Well, in the case of Takoma Park, the maintenance budgets have been steadily declining. Newly planted gardens like the one in Forest Park go uncared-for, and Spring Park is a "vegetational mess," according to City Gardener Mike Welsh. So when he receives complaints about lack of upkeep he freely admits that the maintenance staff has been reduced to just himself and one other worker--to maintain 30-plus sites citywide. So my rant on this subject is: Hey, these are plants, not sidewalks, and if they're not taken care of every year, the money spent on them is just wasted.

Vines growing in trees

Though Takoma Park's tree law prohibits letting vines grow up into trees--yes, even on your own property--the budgeteers don't allocate enough funds for enforcement. And sadly, after writing about the widespread strangulation of our trees in the February issue of the Voice I didn't see a single one subsequently freed of its vines.

Walkability

So how do we fare on the subject of pedestrian safety? Although the City of Takoma Park's website confidently declares that the city "prides itself on being pedestrian-friendly," as a regular walker I offer two observations about the implementation of that nice thought.

Problems with vegetation

Ever had to clear the jungle before proceeding down a sidewalk in your neighborhood? I know I have. And for people pushing strollers it means walking in the street just to protect their kids from menacing branches. At the risk of sounding like my mother, somebody could lose an eye! Not to mention walkers who are visually handicapped or otherwise challenged. Despite city and county laws prohibiting letting plants "encroach on" or overhang within 8 feet above any street or sidewalk, full enforcement of these code provisions simply costs more than local governments are willing to spend.

Snow

Another threat to pedestrian safety is snow- and ice-covered sidewalks, also the subject of legislation but the victim of shortfalls in funding. A few winters ago a huge snowfall forced people to walk in Ethan Allen Avenue for several days because homeowners didn't clear their sidewalks. This is East-West Highway we're talking about. And neighbors' repeated requests of the city to notify the delinquent homeowners of their obligation to remove the snow yielded nothing except the explanation that the police don't have the manpower to do that, even for highways.

So it's up to us, folks

Sure, we could lobby for enough funds to take better care of all our parks and to completely enforce the laws against vines in trees, branches blocking pedestrians and snow on our sidewalks. Or we can wake up, smell the budgetary shortfall and do something!!

· If local maintenance crews never get around to your favorite park or garden, how about organizing regular neighborhood clean-ups?

· If you see vines strangling trees -- and you will if you only look up -- you might remind the homeowner that the tree is endangered and that the vine's berries are being carried far and wide by birds, and then tell them how to remove it (see the Voice website for my previous article about ivy.) And in Takoma Park you could even mention that the law requires its removal. Ooh, that'll scare them.

· When you see vegetation on public property blocking sidewalks and threatening the eyes or other body parts of your neighbors, get out your pruners and remove the threat. Or on private land, ask the homeowner if you can trim it back for them. Just don't go as far as last year's vigilante pruner near Philadelphia Avenue. Under the cover of darkness he cut back the offending vegetation so brutally that some never recovered. So do ask permission. Silver Spring residents can complain to the county, which will send someone to cut back the offending plants and bill the homeowner, but it would be so much more neighborly to ask the homeowner to do it themselves or offer to show them how.

· Ditto for snow removal on high-speed or high-traffic streets. It really is life or death, you know. As local pedestrian safety activist John Wetmore wrote to me recently, "Sidewalks kept free of snow and overgrown plantings indicate a community where people care about their public spaces and care about their neighbors who walk." Right on, John. (See www.pedestrians.org for more.) Okay, I've vented and I'm feeling much better, so I'll conclude on a lighter note with a little law I found recently in Takoma Park's Code.   In the section called "Offenses Against Public Welfare" I learn that it's illegal to "expose publicly any article of clothing or other laundry for purposes of drying or airing" within 20 feet of a sidewalk unless the article is screened from public view.   Whew, good to know that threat's been taken care of.

Master Gardener Susan Harris writes about gardening for UDC's Cooperative Extension Service and teaches gardening privately; see - thegardeningcoach.com. She also blogs at gardenrant.com and takomagardener.typepad.com.

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