Parklets
Role of S.F. Parklets as Public Space Not Always Clear
Parklets in San Francisco are available for public use, but often they serve as extensions of the dining rooms of eateries.
West Hollywood Pilots Pop-Up Walkability Improvements
Six-month pilot projects along the Sunset Strip include a parklet and painted sidewalk extensions by a street artist.
Chicago Parklet Designed to Be Flexible and Cost Effective
A newly installed parklet in Chicago is part of a larger program to engage the city’s public spaces.
Did This Quiet Colorado Town Invent Parklets?
Before parklets dominated San Francisco’s Mission Street, a small bedroom community nestled between Boulder and Denver used parklets to completely transform its downtown.
Pavement Parks: a Better Parklet Alternative
Too often, street-side parklets become little more than semi-private patios for the businesses that sponsor them. Pavement parks, replacing dangerous intersections, may be a more worthwhile option.
Proposed Parklet Divides San Francisco Gay Neighborhood
A small cafe in San Francisco's gay neighborhood, the Castro, proposed a parklet on two parking spaces that is dividing merchants. Some see it as a potential haven for homeless and illegal activity, as well as objecting to the loss of parking.
Students Design and Build Downtown Portland's First Parklet
The newest addition to the city of Portland's Street Seats program is the result of a student team of designers and builders from Portland State University.
Architecture Critic Finds Faults in Chicago Placemaking
Architecture Critic Blair Kamin wants more from Make Way for People, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's placemaking program, and finds faults with the Lincoln Hub as an example of tactical urbanism.
Cleveland Clears the Way for its First Parklet
Cleveland will soon have its first park let—thanks to the leadership of the nonprofit Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corp., the collective generosity of Cleveland Collectivo and more, and the approval of the Cleveland Planning Commission.
Does the Loss of 591 Parking Spaces Constitute a Crisis?
That's how two San Francisco Chronicle reporters are painting the loss of 591 parking spaces to bike lanes, parklets, and bus rapid transit this year, after losing 180 downtown spaces last year. Streetsblog's Aaron Bialick responds.
Touring San Francisco's Parklet Boom
As the birthplace of the parklets movement, San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area have lots of parklet eye candy to choose from.
A Primer on Parklets in San Francisco: Past, Present, Future
The San Francisco Chronicle's urban design critic, John King, knows his San Francisco parklets—from the first ones that started the nationwide urban movement five years ago, to the ones currently in the hopper at the city planning office.
The Economic Case for Converting Parking to Parklets
Emily Badger of The Washington Post Wonkblog writes about a new study showing the economic benefits of converting street spaces in front of storefronts to parklets. Other options for street spaces include bike lanes, bikeshare docks, and bus lanes.
A New Future Proposed for Georgetown
After announcing its Georgetown 2028 Plan last year, the Georgetown Business Improvement District is continuing its ambitious efforts to bring new facilities and amenities online in Georgetown.
'Kit of Parts' Streamlines the Process of Converting Streets into Parks
An Atlantic Cities article details how the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s People St program is making it easier for communities to design and build plazas, parklets, and bike facilities on their streets.
Sorry Cars, L.A. Begins Turning its Streets Over to People
With the launch of a new website, the city of L.A. has begun an exciting experiment in community-based placemaking. The "People St" program will soon accept applications to convert underused street space into plazas, parklets, and bicycle corrals.
Why Aren't Boston's First Parklets Being Used?
With Boston's first parklets off to a slow start, observers wonder whether their low usage is due to poor planning, bad design, or insufficient outreach. With the parklets set to reopen in the spring, can they be tweaked to succeed?
With Vote by City Council, Sacramento to Become Healthier and More Bike Friendly
More bike corrals, bike sharing, and parklets are on the way to the Golden State's capital thanks to the city council's unanimous vote on Oct. 22 with support from cyclists, pedestrians, businesses, and the regional air district.
City Initiative Embraces Bottom-Up Placemaking in L.A.
The same week that the City of L.A. made a big splash with its "Great Streets Initiative", a new program that has the potential to have a sizable impact on city streets went less noticed. Damien Newton reports on the city's "People St" program.
Pilot Parklet Program Finds Fans in L.A., May Expand
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.
Pagination
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority