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The Little Fox

Tiela, a little red fox with long ears, wandered down form Mount Sentinel into the valley below. It had been a long journey from her home almost two thousand miles to the south, but a journey she knew she had to make. Her grandfather, Ambatico, had told her an inspiring story about a place where animals and people alike were welcome and treated with respect. Tiela had come to see if the story was true.

The first thing the little fox set out to do was find a good meal. Tiela crossed a small footbridge that brought her into the edge of the city, and set about scurrying for food in a large green field. Tiela wondered if this was the spot of the old asphalt parking lot that had become a legend even as far away as the southern Rockies, her home for the last twelve years. Sure enough, it was the site. A small placard read,

Here on the north bank of the Clark Fork River, this Native Prairie was brought into existence at the beginning of the 21st Century by the citizens of Missoula. By overwhelming community support, four acres of asphalt was removed to release the potential of the land for a more natural existence.

Tiela was amazed. In addition to the native prairie being restored, there were also gardens and pathways, fruits and cobblestone, and animals and people everywhere. She saw dogs and squirrels, several ravens and even hummingbirds.

Tiela trotted along the river and noticed that everywhere she looked there were trails that spun off into the city. 'How do I choose a trail?' she thought, they all looked so tempting. At last the red fox slipped over the lip of a cool canal, climbed a steep embankment, and was confronted by one of the most spectacular sights she had ever encountered. The main street (Higgins read the sign) was made of all grass! And down the center people were walking and biking and visiting happily with one another. There was even a quiet little trolley riding on a rail embedded in the thick green grass.

Tiela was delighted. Everywhere Tiela wandered that day, she met friendly people who told her the stories of the town. Many of the streets were made of grass, and some were a mosaic of brick and stone with plenty of gardens in the leftover space. Tiela discovered that a group of citizens had been so inspired by the first asphalt removal project, that they had initiated a community-wide movement to green the entire city. All it had taken was for a few people to get together and come up with an action plan to rebuild their public spaces.

Tiela was so excited! She could hardly wait to wake up the next morning and write her grandfather to thank him for telling her that story about this special town in Western Montana. She could let him know with certainty that, indeed, there is a place that people live in harmony with animals and the land.

The End

About mist