On top of the AstroTurf is a roomy old sofa, a perfect place to loll at leisure and watch the passing parade. Some people fill their yards with flowers. Roses bloom in untidy profusions, morning glories climb all over chain link fences, and calla lilies line the path to sagging front porches. The neighborhood rises and falls along a gentle slope, and trees are everywhere, in yards, lining the streets and heading into the hills. But this is not a good place to be a cat.
Dogs are nearly as common as cars and take their job as guardians seriously.
After enduring the perils of drugs and prostitution, South Park is facing gentrification. The place has become a draw for young professionals eager to own homes close to the city at low prices. As professionals move in, they tend to fix up their places. Prices and taxes rise, and poor people get pushed out. On the other hand, where yuppies go, good places to have coffee are sure to follow, as well as good grocery stores, bookstores and video rentals.