Hellstrips and Why They Matter

Intro

When thinking of urban design we tend to overlook small changes. However, where space is scarce, we cannot rely only on large, capital projects such as roads and parks to improve our environment and quality of life. In this article I will be introducing hellstrip gardening, a practice which makes a huge impact on and around a neglected part of our streets.

What are Hellstrips?

Hellstrips, also known as Devils’ Strips, Tree Lawns, Berms, and a myriad of other names, are the piece of land between the road and sidewalk. Installed to add green space, they typically contain only grass, mud and trees. Hellstrips usually belong to the city, but may be the responsibility of a nearby property owner to maintain.

Effects of Current Hellstrips:

As previously stated, hellstrips typically only contain grass, mud, and trees. This connects hellstrips to lawn cultivation. It’s hard to imagine a neighbourhood, park, or street without grass. Over 40 million hectares of it are found in the United States alone, slightly above the area of corn planted annually in the nation (95 million acres). Unfortunately, lawn cultivation is incredibly harmful to the environment. Caring for the land involves aggressive watering and fertilization, making it bad in drought conditions and inhospitable to other species. In addition, turf grass has shallow roots which retain water poorly and its clumps pose fire hazards. Coincidentally, this is a characteristic invasive species often have. 

Why are Hellstrips Neglected?

Sandwiched between sidewalk and the road, Hellstrips are subject to many factors that hinder gardening. Salt, waste, traffic, and curbside water all degrade hellstrip soil. The soil becomes compacted, contaminated, and nutrient-poor. Plants struggle to grow amidst toxic vehicle fumes and heat stored by surrounding concrete. Large tree roots and lack of irrigation may also affect hellstrips. If a homeowner is willing to work with these poor conditions, they must contend with the city, which, as stated in the previous paragraph, may own the hellstrip and enforce bylaws. 

The Future of Hellstrips

A Google search brings up numerous hellstrip gardening guides and examples, which promisingly indicates hellstrip gardening is becoming more common. 21st century projects like the High Line, a New York City railroad transformed into an elevated park, show city governments care about underutilized urban spaces. What needs to happen next is freedom for individuals to make their own changes. Residents should be able to work on hellstrips quickly without being hindered by bureaucracy. Furthermore, governments and/or community groups could act as a support system encouraging this practice, perhaps by providing guides and free native plants.

I personally believe humanity is experiencing a revolution composed of small contributions: Donating food, volunteering, attending a protest. Creating a better world is no longer a task thought to be for the highly educated, privileged, or in power. We can all make a change, and I am confident that the prevalence of hellstrip gardens is one step in the right direction.