This case study is a part of Shift Into Gear, a bicycle advocacy resource created by PlayCore and 8 80 Cities. The benefits of cycling are extensive; it benefits people’s health and fitness, promotes societal and community capital, provides economic benefits to the area, enhances the transportation alternatives individuals can choose, and protects the environment. To read additional case studies and download the complete resource, visit our Shift Into Gear page.
“With the addition of [parklets] we’re brining yet another innovative approach of people- oriented public space to neighborhoods.”
Darrell Mussatto, Mayor, North Vancouver, BC
Vancouver, BC is a Canadian city of nearly 2.5 million people.. Its amazing cultural diversity, importance as a port for world trade, and the vast sea, mountain, and forest recreation opportunities surrounding the city has resulted in steady growth and a heavy tourist industry. With the city growing up, not out, new areas for parks within the urban center of the city are not usually an option. To address this, and to provide more park-like environments within the urban structure, the city is turning to parklets. A parklet is typically a small, sidewalk-scale open space that repurposes a curbside lane or parking spot. Created by building an extended and/or raised platform over the space, parklets can include nature elements, fitness and play opportunities, benches, tables, chairs, landscaping, and bike parking. They serve a variety of purposes, including providing places for people to relax, and expanding sidewalks for walking where streets are narrow or congested. Since sidewalks and streets make up a large part of a city’s overall land area, they are an integral part of the daily experiences. Since many sidewalks were narrowed during the 20th century to make room for autos, often people are left with crowded sidewalks with no space for stopping and resting. Since many city dwellers need to travel great distances to enjoy a park, play area, or other public space, parklets provide opportunities for urban communities to create small, important spaces right in their neighborhood. Today, building a parklet is easy, as they can be purchased as a modular kit, with the ability to build to suit and add features like side rails and/or cabling to denote the space boundaries and promote safety. With this infrastructure in place, the amenities and art at a parklet can be created to reflect the diversity and creativity of the business and people who build, support, and use them. They also re ect a community’s commitment to walking, bicycling, and strengthening connectivity.
Vancouver tested the effectiveness of parklets in a pilot program over several years before the City Council officially approved the Parklet Program. Vancouver’s first three parklets were built between 2011 and 2012. Thefirst was constructed in 2011 as a stand-alone project in response to a call for proposals. In 2012, two more parklets were added in other areas of downtown Vancouver. The interest in these sites resulted in the City of Vancouver’s VIVA Vancouver program launching the Parklet Pilot Program in 2013. VIVA Vancouver is a city- led program with the mission of transforming roads into vibrant spaces for people. They work in collaboration with community groups, businesses, and regional partners to facilitate short- and long-term closure of streets, creating public spaces for walking, relaxing, and enjoying the city. The work of VIVA Vancouver enhances the city’s community capital, encourages walking and cycling, and supports local business with this additional foot traffic.
The purpose of the initial program was to understand how parklets would be received and used, and whether the program should be implemented on a permanent basis. Business owners, community organizations, and other applicants in Vancouver were eligible to apply for parklets under the pilot. If approved, each applicant was tasked with covering the costs of designing and installing the parklets, documenting community support, and maintaining parklets on a regular basis. Under the pilot, three more parklets were built for a total of six.
In 2015, the effect of the six parklets was evaluated. The parklets were found to be well-used, well-maintained, and supported by both owners and users of the parklet spaces. The data collection process lasted over the summer of 2015, and included visiting the parklets to track behavior mapping and length of stay, seeking input from both the public and businesses in a survey, and assessing the cleanliness and upkeep of the parklets.
The survey responses indicated that people found the parklets to be an element in making streets more vibrant and fun. One of the most important reasons, as indicated by the people surveyed, was that they add a social element where people can meet, relax, and talk. People also thought the parklets added an important aesthetic value to the places they were located. It’s important to note that issues of graffiti and maintenance were almost non-existent, with only one minor issue in each of these two areas of concern noted over the life of the pilot program.
The city also wanted to be sure that businesses had the opportunity to participate in the survey, to ensure they also had a positive view. Surveyors recorded that 13.6% of the businesses noticed an increase in business as a result of the parklet, and negative impact was minimal, as only 6.2% of businesses noted this effect. The most common response of these was lack of a parking space. Nearly 65% of businesses noted that the parklet had made their neighborhood a better place.
One of the most important lessons learned had to do with people’s familiarity with the concept of parklets. Many did not realize that parklets were a public/no-purchase necessary space, and were delighted to learn that this was the case. In addition, the most frequently mentioned suggestion was the addition of more parklets throughout Vancouver, which indicates they have a promising future, not just in Vancouver, but in urban environments worldwide. People also noted the desire for additional improvements, like more seating and shade structures over the parklet to provide protection from weather elements.
As a result of the successful pilot, the Vancouver parklet program was officially launched in June of 2016. Vancouver businesses interested in adding a parklet can complete a simple 2-page form, and submit it along with initial concept description, site plans, photos of the site, parking meter info, and documents showing the support for the parklet. The application process and approval takes approximately 6-8 months.
The parklet is an innovative way to build public gathering spaces right in the heart of the urban streetscape. Businesses and organizations with limited sidewalk space now have the unique ability to extend their atmosphere and aesthetic to the outdoors. Parklets are an important tool in supporting local business, enlivening the city streets, and attracting non-motor driven traf c like cyclists and pedestrians. Parklets are often located near bike parking, and bike parking can be incorporated into the parklet as an element of convenience to attract cyclists to the space.
