Parks: Small Spaces, Big Impacts

Pocket parks can improve public life with minimal requirements

By Mitchell Fransen

Community parks are often celebrated as the epitome of urban park experiences, as evidenced in Google results, bustling vehicular traffic, and ambient sounds present. However, leaders tend to overlook the invaluable opportunity to forge community bonds through the intimate spaces of smaller parks. Not all citizens go to parks after a 9-5 shift in a minivan with their kids, ready for active recreation. Moreover, rethinking the impacts of smaller parks, pocket parks, plazas, and multi-destination greenways is paramount in delivering on the promise of excellent parklands for all citizens in urban regions and beyond.