unpaving
Tearing up roads
Unpaving is the removal of pavement—tearing up asphalt, concrete, or other hard surfaces to restore permeable ground beneath.
The term appears in urban planning and environmental contexts, where unpaving parking lots or roads allows rainwater to absorb into soil rather than running off: The city's unpaving initiative converted abandoned lots into green space.
Restoring lost plant cover
- rewildingRestoring natural ecosystems
- habitat restorationReviving degraded natural environments
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
stormwater · biodiversity · wildlife corridor · pollinators · seedbank · native species · soil health · microbiome
Stripping hardscape to restore soil
- daylightingUsing sunshine indoors
- land reclamationCreating ground from water
- placemakingDesigning meaningful public spaces
- pedestrianizationRemoving vehicles from streets
green space · pocket park · community garden · urban greening · walkability · livability · car-free · public space
Power tool for breaking concrete
- excavationAct of unearthing
- rubbleBroken building fragments
- haulingTransporting heavy items
- deconstructionAnalysis exposing self-contradiction
dismantling · bulldozing · debris · subgrade · machinery · earthmoving
Common people as political base
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- environmental justiceFair sharing of ecological burdens
- reclaimTake back possession
- climate actionMeasures addressing atmospheric change
guerrilla gardening · civic engagement · petition · demonstration · protest · direct action
revegetation
Restoring lost plant cover
- rewildingRestoring natural ecosystems
- habitat restorationReviving degraded natural environments
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
infiltration · stormwater · biodiversity · wildlife corridor · pollinators · seedbank · native species · soil health · microbiome · earthworms
depaving
Stripping hardscape to restore soil
- daylightingUsing sunshine indoors
- land reclamationCreating ground from water
- placemakingDesigning meaningful public spaces
pedestrianization · green space · pocket park · community garden · urban greening · walkability · livability · car-free · public space · climate adaptation
jackhammer
Power tool for breaking concrete
- excavationAct of unearthing
- rubbleBroken building fragments
- haulingTransporting heavy items
deconstruction · dismantling · bulldozing · debris · subgrade · machinery · earthmoving
grassroots
Common people as political base
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- environmental justiceFair sharing of ecological burdens
- reclaimTake back possession
climate action · guerrilla gardening · civic engagement · petition · demonstration · protest · direct action
unpavingpaving
Laying hard ground cover
asphalting · concreting · surfacing · tarmacking · blacktopping
unpavingdevelopment
Progress toward maturity
urbanization · hardscaping · construction · sprawl · urban expansion
pave, paved, paving, paver, pavers, pavement, pavements, repave, repaved