Pocket Parks

New pocket parks provide valuable opportunities for residents to play and gather in the territory's dense neighborhoods.

October 26, 2022 - CNN

In a park-poor neighborhood, vacant lots provide an untapped opportunity for small-scale parks.

April 26, 2021 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research

In an effort to make public spaces more inclusive, a new pocket park in the Callowhill neighborhood will seek input from people experiencing homelessness on how to make the space more welcoming and functional.

March 22, 2021 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

A local non-profit recently announced funding for the development of five public green spaces in the coming year. The projects represent incremental progress toward a larger, shared vision.

December 17, 2015 - Indystar

San Francisco Chronicle Architecture Critic John King reviews, and celebrates, the recent string of small projects that reclaim public space in the city, calling them "modest works of true ambition."

September 11, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

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.

October 2, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

With the opening last weekend of the city's first pilot parklet in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock, Los Angeles is hoping to join the ranks of cities hopping on the low-cost trend in public space creation.

February 6, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper

Paris, Barcelona, New York City...Cleveland? Like the oft-hidden urban oasis that are the subject of this article, you may come across some surprises in Crai S. Bower's list of the best cities for pocket parks.

January 21, 2013 - MSN

Writing in Grist, Chuck Wolfe provides a counterintuitive look at what to do about potholes and how they could become "the universal darlings of walkable urbanism".

December 17, 2011 - Grist

Jessica Garrison reports on how the City of Los Angeles spent $600k designing and building a park that no one ever got to use when it was claimed as a site for a public school.

December 12, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

The city of Pacoima, CA is going ahead with a new program that transforms foreclosed homes into pocket parks. Vacant lots are being considered in addition to 10 foreclosed sites.

November 25, 2011 - LA Daily News

Last week, Mayor Villaraigosa presented his vision for a more livable L.A., including the addition of fifty pocket parks.

November 21, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

Looking at "urban acupuncture", a recent movement that eschews massive urban renewal projects in favor of smaller interventions.

July 25, 2011 - The Guardian U.K.

Sally Augustin stumbled upon a curved park bench at the heart of a public space, and found herself drawn into the brilliance of its curves.

May 24, 2011 - Metropolis Magazine

The Planters company has revealed plans to assist cities in designing and building urban pocket parks in underused land. In return, the parks will include branding from the company, including a Mr. Peanut statue sitting on a peanut bench.

February 28, 2011 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

Critic Inga Saffron says that the interesting architecture and urban design is happening on the small scale: small parks, small houses and small plans.

January 8, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

It's Halloween time again, the day when dressing up in silly costumes is required of every conscionable person. Some opt for the scary ghost or the sexy nurse, but others, more thoughtful others, make more of this opportunity.

October 25, 2010 - Nate Berg