How Pop-Up Parks Can Energize Repurposed Space

WASHINGTON, DC—Pop-up parks are instant open areas ready for public use and programming. They are under-utilized space, or space originally purposed for another use, such as a parking space/parking lot.

“Pop-up parks can accelerate real estate development, activate emerging neighborhoods, and support businesses and safe pedestrian zones,” says Stephanie Pankiewicz, a partner at LandDesign. “While the term is used in some circles to describe car-designated zones reclaimed for pedestrian use, today’s pop-up parks are diverse, creative and often a key to validating both the need for more urban open space and concept designs that test new ideas in public realm design.”

They also are impactful. Pankiewicz points to a recent 10,000 square foot pop-up park, Greensboro Green, created in The Boro in Tysons, Va. It ended up being a usable and magnetic zone during construction, attracting neighbors to learn more about The Boro and Tyson’s rapid growth.

“People want flexible spaces, and developers and area businesses benefit by presenting an active, engaging public realm,” says Pankiewicz, who is currently working on 20-plus outdoor spaces in Tysons. “Pop-up parks can be a great way to test ideas, try new approaches, and see how people will use parks and plazas when they are fully built out.”

Virginia

For example, Greensboro Green was the beginning of an evolution in Tysons. A city traditionally dominated by vehicles, this pop-up provided a space specifically designed for pedestrians. The design took an existing parking lot corner and turned it into a park designed with the flexibility for events of all sizes and encouraged people to linger and engage in social interactions. A mix of seating options, landscape and bright colors provide the instant “pop-up” vibe.

Since the implementation of Greensboro Green, the park is populated with nearby employees, children’s day care centers and even a few dogs. The park’s popularity has even triggered events including farmers markets, yoga and social events.

North Carolina

A pop-up park at the future site of Bell Tower Green Park in Salisbury, N.C., has also served as a space for community yoga classes and events. These events facilitated not only community engagement but also gave participants the chance to learn about future plans for the park and future activities.

“For developers, pop-up parks and public programming can help inform longer-range design decisions, serving as testing for how to entertain people and activate plazas, esplanades, parks and open areas, as seen at The Boro or at the Bell Tower Green Park,” explains Pankiewicz.

Florida

Another example includes the pop-up recreation zone for Boxi Park, which was created from shipping containers and modern furnishings at the Lake Nona Town Center, an Orlando-area community. The park is now helping to build interest around new multifamily and mixed-use developments in the area.

How the Parks are Created

Pop-up parks are generally, but not always, created quicker than typical construction methods and usually at lower costs. Greensboro Green, for example, was in place for one year and basically utilized sports court paint over existing asphalt to define the park space. Within this pop up park, furnishings typically placed in a permanent park, were purchased and installed by the developer. As there was no actual construction or land disturbance, only limited engineering permits were required.

In contrast, pop-up parks created for the national event, PARK(ing) Day, lasts for only one day each September and can include materials such as cardboard, Pankiewicz tells GlobeSt.com.

Pop-up park locations are sometimes determined through strategic city or county policies which requires developers to design, permit, fund, and create interim parks during phased developments.

“Other times pop-up parks are created through community demand, imagination, and advocacy organizations. PARK(ing) day, for instance, started as a community project in San Francisco and is now advocated for by the American Society of Landscape Architects through national wide chapters,” explains Pankiewicz.

“Rather than committing major project elements or fund outlays up front, pop-up parks give mayors, developers and other stakeholders a better feel for what the community wants and what’s possible,” adds Pankiewicz.