What is a parklet?
Parklets are small seating areas or green spaces installed in one or a number of parking bays within town and city centres. They are used to help enhance the overall appearance of an area, increase pedestrian walkways or to reduce the number of cars on a street to improve traffic flow. The design of a parklet differs hugely but they usually feature one or a number of elements including raised planters, seating, lighting and bike storage, providing a functional space for people to meet, chat and relax.
Parklets are a brilliant solution for improving urban areas and the use of them is gaining in popularity with local authorities in the UK thanks to the focus on net zero by 2030 and government’s supporting Active Travel campaign which provides funding for projects that encourage more trips into town and city centres that are walked, wheeled or cycled. Parklets can also be created and managed by local communities or businesses, with permission from their local authority.
What are the benefits of parklets?
Installing parklets in parking bays is a great way to lower congestion on busy roads, which will help to reduce air pollution. Parklet designs are generally fully moveable allowing local authorities to use them seasonally or repurpose them and move them from one location to another. A great example of this is Oxford County Council’s Broad Street public realm project where WoodBlocX Moveable Planters and seating has been installed temporarily to gauge public feedback and decide whether the scheme should be a permanent fixture.
Oxford County Council’s Broad Street scheme. Image: Oxford County Council. Landscape Architect: Atkins
The benefits to businesses
The UK’s first parklet was installed in Hackney, London in 2015 and gradually gained popularity over the years with demand rocketing post covid when bars and restaurants were able to reopen under strict social distancing rules. The extension of the pavements provided more space for customers and helped to bring business back to food and drink outlets on the highstreet. It has been reported that businesses close to parklets have experienced an uplift in sales.
The benefits to communities
Parklets can be adopted or created by community groups, giving them more freedom to include the things that matter to them, where its raised planters to create floral displays or grow food for the community. Being within nature is proven to have a positive effect on our wellbeing and mental health.
In Hackney, London, Brenda Puech applied to transform a parking bay into a parklet, the council originally refused the proposal but Brenda went ahead and created one anyway and started a petition to keep it. As a result the council agreed and it also led them to change their policy on the use of parking spaces using the original parklet as a pilot scheme. There are now more than 15 parklets planned for the area thanks to Brenda.
One of a number of parklets in Hackney, London. Image: livingstreets.org
Divided opinions on parklets
Depending on the location, opinion is divided over parklets, in some areas these revamped parking bays are welcomed and even campaigned for, whilst in others they are complained about due to the removal of parking spaces. Parklets tend to take up to one or two parking spaces, however, larger projects can take entire streets and remove a larger volume of parking space.
Metropolitan areas appear to receive much better public reaction to smaller towns and cities where parking may be at a premium and using public transport is less prolific. However, backlash isn’t simply about parking, aesthetics play a huge part too, the parklets installed, and later removed, in Louth are a prime example of this. The comfortable seating and decked area was an excellent design and made from high quality materials but when added to the street it completely lacked the detail needed to bring it to life and entice people to use it, in addition to that residents of Lincolnshire market town were unhappy about the removal of the much used parking bays by the elderly.
Louth’s parklet. Image: BBC
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City centres are definitely evolving, from traffic reduction to the creating a greener infrastructure and parklets, though small, can provide a brilliant solution to creating pockets of nature in urban areas, they can contribute to reducing emissions by improving traffic flow, bring communities together and help boost business on the high street. Take a look at our moveable planter options for parklets and see how they can be used to create adaptable and beautiful spaces.
