Tierra Firma

This caught my attention while walking in New York. There is something about seeing earth in the city that catches your attention (with or without the orange cones). Its almost like one assumes that while living upon the concrete surface of the urban grid, that its just one solid island of concrete. That there is no earth, except in strategic "park" spaces, where its formed, worked...manicured.

But what would the urban grid become if "earth" were to be exposed? What infrastructures of the city could be reinvigorated, reintroduced? Its properties: absorb water runoff, sound absorption, sustaining plant life...human life...