How to turn parking places into people spaces

46 Parklets

HOW TO TURN CAR PARKING SPACES INTO PEOPLE PLACES

Parklets can serve as an important focal point when transforming streets from car dominated environments to community hubs, writes Habib Khan

Community parklets in Barnes, west London Many believe the future of urban living is one that will not dominated by cars but by nature. The Covid19 pandemic has shown us the importance of green open spaces to our wellbeing and mental health.

This shift towards outdoor spaces has paved the way for more parklets, with hundreds being installed in London alone over the past year.

So, what exactly is a parklet?

Well, it’s a bit like a pocket park but on the road. A parklet is typically an extended platform over a parking space covering one, two or as many car parking bays as you want to convert. It generally combines elements such as, but not limited to seating, tables, planters with planting, green roof, pergola, bike parking or lighting.

Parklets are classed as temporary measures as they can be moved very easily. Most parklets have a decked area, which takes into account the camber of the road and level with the kerb so as to avoid a trip hazard.

What innovations are possible with parklets?

Parklets have come a long way since our first installations over five years ago. They now have solar panels which provide lighting and power for charging the users mobile phones. They also have green roofs to attract biodiversity and with water attenuation tanks, these can capture rainwater to prevent flooding and the water can be used for the planters.

Parklets can be designed to have Wi-Fi incorporated into them, which makes sponsoring the parklet more

attractive as users register to use the Wi-Fi.

Our parklets located outside schools even contain a variety of games for children, making them familyfriendly spots.

Doesn’t the loss of parking affect the neighbouring businesses?

No,actually all the evidence from the UK and US shows businesses where parklets are located outside have shown a 20% to 30% uplift in revenue within the first 12 months.

Many customers of bars and coffee shops enjoy the alfresco experience, but most pavements are very narrow and so extending the seating onto the carriageway seems perfectly sensible.

Do parklets need planning permission?

No, if they are on the carriageway a traffic management order and change of use is required. In response to Covid-19, a Pavement Licence regime is in place, which is administered by local authorities, and is designed to make it easier for bars, restaurants and pubs to seat and serve customers outdoors on streets, pavements and in parking spaces through temporary changes.

Who maintains them?

A comprehensive maintenance package is available from the suppliers to keep the plants healthy. This includes: removal of dead leaves, any debris, plant

Clockwise from top left: Hammersmith Grove community parklets; Camden ‘Streateries’ parklets; solar phone charging units at a parklet in Enfield, north London; the parklets in Merton, south London, have become a popular evening location

48 Parklets

feed, pruning and plant replacements (due to natural failures or anti-social behaviour).

Do parklets attract anti-social behaviour?

You may expect them to, but parklets tend to be relatively trouble-free.

The trick is to find a good location and involve the local business. It is a good idea to install notices about litter and smoking, and to have bins located next to the parklets.

What else do we need to help the spread of parklets on our streets?

A toolkit or parklet manual would help provide information on the application process, fees, responsibilities, design guidelines, and technical requirements, making it easier for clients to understand the full system.

Also, a portal with location requests would also be beneficial, so people, businesses and local authority are able to recommend a location that needs a parklet. Lastly, clear engagement needs to take place through something like a Twitter parklet page that could contain feedback on the parklets installed.

Who pays for them?

Presently, most funding is coming from public sources. In London much of the funding was from the Mayor’s office and various complementary measures such as the Liveable Neighbourhoods programme. However, more recently many of them

Imperial College London's Outdoor Study Hubs in West London feature green roofs and timber pergolas

have been funded by projects that are aimed at reviving the high street such as the Future High Street Fund.

Private sector funding is being made available from corporate sponsorship, which can pay for building the parklet as well as the ongoing maintenance. n

Habib Khan is director at Meristem Design Email: habib@meristemdesign.co.uk

Parklet in Shoreditch

What is involved in getting a Parklet onto the street?

This toolkit offers a step-by-step guide, which can be used by local authorities and local businesses. It explains what processes need to be followed to ensure a successful Parklet installation. Meristem Design is working with a number of local authorities to adapt this toolkit into a planning process allowing businesses and local community groups to submit a planning request to their local council to make the roll out of Parklets easier for all parties. The process to install a Parklet needs to be as easy as it is for a business to apply for an outdoor furniture licence.