Before its launch, a skeptic in car-crazy L.A. might have wondered whether a pilot program to transform parking spaces into pocket parks would have much success. But, to the delight of backers, the parklets have been a hit and may expand citywide.
"A plan to increase the pedestrian friendliness of Los Angeles by blocking off parallel parking spaces and creating pocket parks on the adjacent sidewalk appears to be flourishing, according to city officials and backers of the project," writes Ann M. Simmons.
"Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, associate dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a lead researcher at the school’s Lewis Center Complete Streets Initiative, which played an integral role in creating these new public spaces, said they seemed to be 'catching on.' More people appeared to be using the sidewalks, and the parklets were generally 'very well occupied,' she said."
Councilman Jose Huizar, who co-sponsored the pilot program, is bullish on the potential of parklets to expand citywide. "My goal is to have hundreds of [parklets] throughout the city of Los Angeles,” Huizar said. “It's a new way of thinking, a new way of adding to public amenities, to neighborhoods."
FULL STORY: L.A.'s pocket parks are flourishing, supporters say
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