Parklet
Encyclopedia
A parklet is a small urban park
, often created by replacing several under-utilized parallel parking
spots with a patio, planters, trees, benches, café
tables with chairs, fountain(s), artwork, sculptures and/or bicycle parking. Parklets are designed to provide a public place for citizens to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the city around them, in places where either current urban parks are lacking or if the existing sidewalk width is not large enough to accommodate vibrant street life activities. Parklets can be designed to be either permanent fixtures, or can be designed to be temporary/seasonal in places where snow removal is a concern.
project by Rebar art and design studio
, by feeding a parking meter
with coins, unrolling grass sod
, and placing a potted tree on top. Later, the city's "Pavement to Parks" program facilitated their installation. As of 2011 the program had received over 50 applications from sponsors around the city. In 2011 the city installed the most ambitious parklet, a 2-block long installation along Powell Street near Union Square, funded by a corporate donation by Audi
.
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
, often created by replacing several under-utilized parallel parking
Parallel parking
thumb|250px|right|Parallel-parked cars in [[Washington, D.C.]]thumb|250px|right|A motorist gets assistance parallel-parkingParallel parking is a method of parking a vehicle in line with other parked cars. Cars parked in parallel are in one line, parallel to the curb, with the front bumper of each...
spots with a patio, planters, trees, benches, café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
tables with chairs, fountain(s), artwork, sculptures and/or bicycle parking. Parklets are designed to provide a public place for citizens to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the city around them, in places where either current urban parks are lacking or if the existing sidewalk width is not large enough to accommodate vibrant street life activities. Parklets can be designed to be either permanent fixtures, or can be designed to be temporary/seasonal in places where snow removal is a concern.
San Francisco
In the United States, Parklets have so far been most popular in San Francisco. The first parklet was created in 2005 as an unofficial activistActivism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
project by Rebar art and design studio
Rebar art and design studio
Rebar Art and Design Studio, founded in 2004, is an interdisciplinary studio based in San Francisco, operating at the intersection of art, design and activism. The group’s work encompasses visual and conceptual public art, landscape design, urban intervention, temporary performance installation,...
, by feeding a parking meter
Parking meter
A parking meter is a device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. Parking meters can be used by municipalities as a tool for enforcing their integrated on-street parking policy, usually related to their traffic and...
with coins, unrolling grass sod
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
, and placing a potted tree on top. Later, the city's "Pavement to Parks" program facilitated their installation. As of 2011 the program had received over 50 applications from sponsors around the city. In 2011 the city installed the most ambitious parklet, a 2-block long installation along Powell Street near Union Square, funded by a corporate donation by Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
.