AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCEPT OF PARKLETS

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit association that represents large cities on transportation issues of local, regional and national significance. While NACTO facilitates the exchange of transportation ideas, insights and best practices among large cities, they have assembled a substantial amount of information that is useful for cities of all sizes. The following link will open some highly pertinent information on downtown commercial district parklets:

http://nacto.org/usdg/interim-design-strategies/parklets/

DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR PARKLETS

The City of San Francisco, California has been at the forefront of parklet design and development since the concept started around 10 years ago. This link will take you to their latest Parklet Manual and Video:

http://pavementtoparks.sfplanning.org/parklets.html#parkletmanual

It is one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly guides to the parklet concept and process.

IMPACT OF PARKLETS

This study focuses on the impact (numbers of visitors, amount of bike traffic) made by a variety of parklets in San Francisco:

http://nacto.org/docs/usdg/parklet_impact_study_sf_planning_dept.pdf

This study focuses on the economic impact of parklets relative to specific businesses in Philadelphia, PA:

http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/03/why-some-parklets-work-better-than-others/387406/

PARKLET GOALS:

ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND ACTIVITIES
ENCOURAGE NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION (PARKLETS CAN BE PARTIALLY OR WHOLLY USED FOR DOCKING BICYCLES)
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
RE-IMAGINE THE POTENTIAL OF CITY STREETS
FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD INTERACTION (BY CREATING A PLACE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS TO OCCUR, CASUAL OR OTHERWISE)

SOME OTHER MATERIAL (BOOKS, VIDEOS, ETC) RELATED TO PARKLETS, TACTICAL URBANISM, OPEN STREETS, SMART GROWTH, ETC.

Key Player: Mike Lydon

Mike Lydon is a Principal of The Street Plans Collaborative. As an internationally recognized planner, writer, and advocate for livable cities, his work has been featured by NPR, The New York Times, CNN Headline News, The Atlantic Cities, Planetizen, Grist, Salon, Next City, Architect Magazine, and Streetsblog, among other publications.

Along with Tony Garcia, Mike is the author of Tactical Urbanism: Short-term Action for Long-term Change, which was published by Island Press in March 2015 and grew from the globally acclaimed Tactical Urbanism Volume 1- 4 series. Mike is also the creator and primary author of the The Open Streets Project, and with author Julie Flynn the editor and co-creator of Mercado: Lessons from 20 Markets across South America. Mike collaborated with Andres Duany and Jeff Speck in writing The Smart Growth Manual, published by McGraw-Hill in 2009 and honored by Planetizen as one of the top ten planning books of 2010.

Mike Lydon explains Tactical Urbanism:

Mike Lydon is Principal of The Street Plans Collaborative. Before launching the firm in 2009, Lydon worked for Smart Growth Vermont, the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, and Ann Arbor's GetDowntown Program. From 2006 - 2009 Lydon worked for Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company (DPZ), an international leader in the practice of smart growth planning, design, and research techniques.

Key Player: Jason Roberts

Co-creator of the Better Block Project, founder of the Oak Cliff Transit Authority, Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, Go Oak Cliff and Art Conspiracy. Speaker at ProWalk Pro Bike 2011, TEDX Austin and Oklahoma and Mayors Innovation Conference 2012.

AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS: American Society of Landscape Architects, Honor Award for Communications 2011, Venice Biennale 13th Annual International Architecture Exhibition, Texas Bicycle Coalition Advocate of the Year 2012

Jason is an I/T Specialist with 15 years of experience in programming, website development, and network infrastructure planning. Jason formed a passion for transportation and urban development after a visit to Europe. In 2006, he formed the Oak Cliff Transit Authority, a non-profit organization, and developed their marketing and web presence, which lead to the city of Dallas being awarded a federal stimulus grant to reintroduce a streetcar system into the city by 2013. Jason recently spearheaded the “Better Block Project”, where he organized teams of advocates to revive blighted, vacant blocks of pre-war buildings into livable, sustainable developments complete with temporary businesses, landscaping, bike lanes, and outdoor cafe seating.

As a public outreach consultant, Jason specializes in translating complex engineering and planning terms and methods into easily understood messages for general public consumption. Additionally, he is adept at communicating with media outlets and providers throughout the nation. Jason serves as prime community and media contact during both planning and design phases. Jason’s role in Better Block is to lead all communications, organize stakeholders and lead coordination with government authorities

Jason Roberts explains the Better Block Project:

Opposite to the 'top down' concept of urban design is BETTER BLOCK, founded in Dallas' Oak Cliff by Jason Roberts and Andrew Howard. The Better Block project is a demonstration tool that temporarily re-visions an area to show the potential to create a walkable, vibrant, neighborhood center.

The Better Block Project maintains a fascinating website that highlights their projects around the country:

http://betterblock.org/

http://teambetterblock.com/