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Pocket ParksWhat makes this neighbourhood element work for children & youth?

A “pocket park” is an intimate open space within a dense urban area. They can be delivered as public parks, Privately Owned Publicly-Accessible Space (POPS).Each pocket park can take on a unique theme, serve as one component of a larger park, or form part of a chain of pocket parks that provide areas of rest en route to a destination.Pocket parks are often created by re-imagining “leftover” spaces or underused sites (reclaimed streets or parking lots) in order to maximize the use of outdoor open spaces.Small pocket parks cumulatively add to the amount of green space in a city and contribute to ecological objectives. Pocket parks can foster a sense of community, and are created through neighbourhood initiatives, by private entities, or by organizations reclaiming spaces to benefit a local community.

Free Admission & After-School ProgramsWhat makes this neighbourhood element work for children & youth?

Free admission to museums and art galleries as well as library and recreational programs ensures children and youth have access to culture regardless of financial means.They offer an enriched learning environment, helping children develop new skills and interests.These programs can help children get to know their city and their institutions, and become more engaged citizens.These programs can help keep teenagers engaged in social activities.After-school activities teach children time management skills and how to prioritize tasks and commitments.Free admission can be offered once a week or once a month during designated times, or daily on first-come, first-served basis.

Located in a parking lot between buildings in San Diego’s East Village, this pocket park is a collaboration by the community, a local architecture firm and developers who own the site.

The intersection of Water Street and Whitehall Street in Manhattan was transformed to include usable open spaces such as a pedestrian plaza. By reconfiguring roads through “road diets”, new areas are made available to pedestrians. Streets are made safer for vehicles, decreasing collisions with pedestrians.

Kic Park was created from a reconfigured intersection in Shanghai. It was transformed into a local open space amenity for the community to rest or socialize on the variety of furniture forms.

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The City of Chicago hosts a free, biweekly performance series every other Friday at the Chicago Cultural Centre, and every other Saturday at Garfield Park Conservatory during summer months.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), in New York provides free tickets on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of their events. This service is offered to families of up to two adults and up to three children.

As part of the New York Public Library’s Programs for Kids, activities and programs are offered such as Toddler Story Time (ages 18 months to 3 years old): interactive stories, action songs, plays and social time.

This plaza offers an intimate social space with furniture, landscape planting and water features in downtown Manhattan. This pocket park is adjacent to Frank Gehry’s residential tower on Spruce Street with community services at lower levels. The child-specific programming is able to spill into this adjacent open space and animate the public realm.

Outdoor movies take place during the summer in Toronto’s open spaces. Larger outdoor spaces should be flexible and designed to accommodate large groups of spectators and an area to accommodate a screen and concessions. This event in Regent Park attracts local residents and draws people of all ages who come for the movie or to socialize along the edges.