Lambeth Community Parklets: Design, Build, and Enjoy!
We are delighted to announce that we have been selected to partner with Lambeth Council to design and deliver the Community Parklets in Lambeth. This is an amazing opportunity for the community to come together and create some truly special green spaces that everyone can enjoy.
Lambeth Council is looking to build 25 new community parklets in one of the largest programs of its kind. Residents are invited to submit their own designs, which could include planters, tables, seating, children's play activities, cycle storage and lots of colourful planting to create new green spaces.
The Community Parklets Scheme, supported by the Big Shift Community Fund, is open to Lambeth residents in the borough to design their own public space. The Council’s Big Shift programme encourages people to reduce their car use and enable more active forms of travel, and this project is a fantastic way to create a greener, more sustainable community.
Parklets turn existing car parking spaces into new, vibrant community spaces. They could be used for greening, planting, for social spaces to sit and chat or even for extra cycle storage.
The scheme will create 25 new parklets over the next year – one in each council ward. Applications are now open to design the first 12 parklets to be delivered over the next few months. We encourage you to read the criteria and speak to your neighbours to gain support before completing an online application form.
Once the successful applicants have been chosen, Lambeth Council will work with them to design and deliver the completed parklets. The successful applicants will maintain the parklets once they have been created, including day-to-day upkeep.
The community engagement will be carried out by Living Streets, a nationwide charity dedicated to encouraging walking as a more sustainable and healthier alternative to car travel.
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, the cabinet member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said:
“Parklets are a great way to create spaces where people can meet, socialise, and make neighbourhoods more pleasant by increasing greenery."
We believe this project will create new community-minded spaces to rest, play and garden. The kerbside is the largest public space controlled by Lambeth Council with an area equivalent to 194 football pitches that are primarily used for car parking. By reclaiming a quarter of this space, we can make the kerbside fairer and accessible for everyone and less dominated by motor vehicles.
We are looking forward to delivering these parklets as a showcase for other authorities to follow in transforming our public spaces. Please contact us for more information.
What is a parklet?
Looking for a way to transform a dull parking space into a vibrant oasis? Look no further than parklets! These miniature versions of pocket parks are taking the world by storm, offering an exciting new way to utilise road space and create a sense of community in bustling urban areas.
At their core, parklets are platforms that occupy parking spaces. However, there's so much more to them than meets the eye. These versatile installations can take many forms, from temporary grass-covered mini-parks to semi-permanent wooden decks complete with seating, tables, planters, green roofs, pergolas, bike parking, and lighting. The possibilities are endless, allowing for a customised parklet that fits the unique character and needs of the surrounding area.
But parklets aren't just pretty to look at - they're also packed with benefits for the community. By providing additional amenities and spaces for people to relax, gather, and engage in activities, parklets serve as a valuable form of street furniture. The inclusion of seating and tables encourages social interaction and creates opportunities for individuals to connect with one another, while the presence of planters with greenery and plants adds natural beauty to the urban environment. These green elements also offer environmental advantages, such as enhanced air quality and the promotion of biodiversity within the city.
We've been involved in several successful projects, each one demonstrating our unwavering commitment to creating vibrant public spaces that prioritise community engagement and well-being. Our parklets feature innovative designs, comfortable seating arrangements, lush plantings, and sustainable features, revitalizing urban areas and providing residents with appealing outdoor spaces to enjoy.
So if you're looking to inject some energy and excitement into your neighbourhood, consider a parklet - the possibilities are endless!
