Pop-Up Parklets for World Car Free Day
To mark Car Free Day, our Car Free Cities team made pop-up parklets in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, and London to show alternative uses for parking spaces. Cars (parked or moving) dominate our cities, but parklets show us what future cities could look like if they were designed for the needs of the people who live in them rather than for cars.
Here’s what happened when we popped-up our parklets.
London
We worked with Hackney New Primary School Parents’ Air Quality and Road Safety Group to organise a whole day, double-length pop-up parklet outside their school. The school, based in a tower block at a very busy junction with a main road, has a lack of outdoor space and most of the families live in flats without gardens.
Parent volunteers provided plants, chairs, tables, books and loads of food. Lots of passersby stopped to enjoy the parklet!
The children’s activity area was a big hit. Growing Communities and Streetbox provided free fruit and veg. Living Streets London, London Parklet Campaign and several local councillors popped down to visit. GCSE Art students from nearby Waterside Academy recreated & displayed banners from the 1970s anti-road danger protests in the same area, as portrayed in the accompanying exhibition of Neil Martinson’s photographs from those historical events.
Many parents welcomed the chance to make new social connections.
“Such a positive community spirit today!” “It was a lovely thing and the road feels empty without it today”. “Fingers crossed we can get a permanent parklet next!”
Photo credit: Paula Siqueira
Birmingham
Joining forces with the Growing Up Green festival, our Birmingham parklet popped up on York Rd, Kings Heath for an afternoon.
One parent said: “My kids loved the chance to play outside with their friends. We need to take back some space from all the cars.” The toys, games and chalks all proved popular with the many children passing on their way home from school.
You may have also spotted our Birmingham parklet and campaigner on BBC Midlands Today.
Bristol
Working with local residents in Upton Road, our Bristol parklet was set up on a windy afternoon in Southville with plants, chairs and games. Visitors enjoyed using the parklet as a space to socialise and catch up with neighbours.
One visitor said “I’ve only waved across the road at my neighbour for the past 18 months - but today we had our first opportunity for a relaxed 20 minute chat since before Covid. This was a great space for community interaction”.
The Bristol parklet also generated lots of media interest from local press and radio, with Bristol 24/7 and Bristol Post both popping down to talk to our Car Free Campaigner Rob Bryher.
Leeds
Zero Carbon Headingley oversaw the Car Free Day celebrations where we popped up in Leeds. We borrowed a Play Box from the council, table and chairs from Hyde Park Source, and our friends at the A65 Sustainable Travel Group helped with logistics on the day.
It was amazing to create something with such community input and spirit! With just a few planters and turf we were able to create a space for people to rest, play, socialise and engage with the idea of reclaiming public space.
People of all ages enjoyed the parklet, along with our Design Your Own Parklet tool . Kids loved the contents of the Play Box, and we made some great connections with other groups who are interested in popping-up a parklet in their own neighbourhoods.
Photo by: Matt Rogers
What’s next?
We need to rethink how public space is used in our cities, and to use it for greater community benefit. Parklets can provide much-needed green space and public seating in our cities, allowing people with mobility needs to manage longer trips. They can also help to reduce social isolation, and allow all residents to have a greater stake in how their street space is used.
Want to learn more about parklets?
Check out our Parklets web page
Use our Parklet Plotter to identify the neighbourhoods in your city where parklets could be valuable
Use our Design Your Own Parklet tool - you can send us your completed pics to hello@wearepossible.org, or share them on social media (don’t forget to tag us), or with your family, friends, and neighbours
We’re planning to create permanent parklets in our Car Free Cities, are you able to help us?
Do you want a parklet on your street?
We are calling on local authorities to create a simple process which allows local communities and residents to come together and create parklets.
Will you write to your councillors, and ask them to create a parklet process for your city?