Converting Parking Spaces into Tiny Public Parks

Boston is developing a pilot program to convert parking spaces into small parks – parklets – complete with patios, benches and planters. The city will pay roughly $ 12,000 for the first parklet, and ask area businesses, nonprofits and associations to sponsor maintenance of plantings and furniture.

San Francisco has 30 parklets already. A typical parklet occupies one to three parking spaces. Rebar, an art and design firm initiated the idea in 2005, which has spawned an international event called the park(ing) day on the third Friday in September.

“It’s predicated on the idea that a metered parking space is an offer for a short-term lease on some pretty valuable urban real estate, and you could actually rent that space to provide a variety of services or fulfill a variety of unmet needs,’’ according to Rebar.



Reference: Moskowitz, Eric, Boston looks to transform parking spots into small parks, Globe Newspaper Company, June 15, 2012
 

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