BERKELEY PPUBLIC PARKLETS ARKLET FOR THE PEOPLEced.berkeley.edu/downloads/gallery/incity/su13/incity... · 2013. 10. 3. · inCity 201 Audrey Bullwinkel, Jonny Faerstein, Zoé Lewis,

Audrey Bullwinkel, Jonny Faerstein, Zoé Lewis, Claire Lust, Molly Schmidt[IN]CITY 2013

990 & 988 Valencia St.

937 Valencia St.914 Valencia St.

1136 Valencia St. 3318 22nd St. 3248 22nd St. 153 Haight St. 754 Post St.

GOALUSe pArkLetS AS A wAy tO ACtivAte pUBLiC SpACe By pArtnerinG BUSineSSeS with SOCiAL CAUSeS.

preCedent prOBLeMSpreCedent SUCCeSSeS pArkLetS:• Costly to the sponsor• Located in gentrified neighborhoods• Limited functionality• Confuse private and public space• Fall into disrepair

pArkLetS:• Add sidewalk appeal• Up to 40% rise in sponsor revenues• Traffic calming devices• Up to 44% rise in foot traffic• widen sidewalks

MethOdOLOGy

PARKLETS FOR THE PEOPLE

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WHAT ARE PARKLETS?WHO ARE THEY FOR?HOW SHOULD THEY BE USED?

WHAT CREATES DEMOGRAPHIC NEED ? WHAT CREATES PLACE BASED NEED? PARKLETS FOR THE PEOPLE

USERS NEEDS CONCEPT

BERKELEYHAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN

CHANGESOCIAL

1960 19681964 1965 19801969

“Shop-in” �ghts hiring discrimination

Free Speech Movement

SF Bay Association reduces �ll

Two way busing desegregates schools

Citizens occupy People’s Park

Voters approve rent control

Berkeley preserves its downtown diversity

2013

Berkeley approves parklet program

1990

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS MOVING FORWARD

July 2nd, 2013: City of Berkeley approved a parklet pilot project Time frame: 10 parklets in 3 yearsTransparency: Applicants must notify the public in advancePermits: $1700Requirements: Permit holders carry insurance Standards: Agree to maintenance and install signage denoting public space

Berkeley has an opportunity to do something new with parklets. The new design will reflect Berkeley’s longstanding history of social change and better serve the community.

THE FUTURE OF BERKELEY PARKLETS

CITY GOALS

FACTS

Accessibility Aesthetic AppealPedestrian Activity

“Facilitate private sector engagement in improvements to publicly owned spaces”

OUR GOALSBuild on the successes of existing parklets Only replace unmetered, non-RPP parking sites Be accessible for people not traditionally reached by parkletsCreate a network of public spaces throughout Berkeley Address neighborhood-specific needs Be functional as well as aesthetically appealingReceive funding from both public and private sources


COMMUnity ASSetS

HEALTH CARE CENTER

PARK

FARMERS MARKET COMMUNITY CENTER

HIGH VOLUME OF PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC

BART STATION

SCHOOL

POTENTIAL AREAS FOR PARKLETS

1

2

3

THE COMMUNITY ASSETS MAP SHOWS WHICH AREAS OF BERKELEY CAN BENEFIT MOST FROM A PARKLET BASED ON THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF COMMUNITY ASSETS.

GROCERY STORE

DEMOGRAPHIC CONDITIONSHAVE COMMUNITY BUT LACK RESOURCESSouth Berkeley has a variety of grassroots organizations that lack financial support and community investment. Businesses could partner with local schools, Youth Spirit Artworks, and commuters by fostering garden, art, and resting space.

PLACE BASED CONDITIONSHAVE RESOURCES BUT LACK COMMUNITY

OBSERVATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS PARKLETSLow income jobsYoung populationLower rates of education High rates of obesityHigh rates of crimeHigh stress levelsLarge commuter population

Sell affordable produceEncourage youth engagementFoster creativity and collaborationTeach healthy habitsMentor for self-advocacy and job trainingRelieve stress and tensionImprove commuter experience

GARDENARTREST

San Pablo and Telegraph are commercial destinations. However, our observations and surveys reveal that pedestrians feel a lack of connectivity with the neighborhood. Local businesses invest in their neighborhoods by fostering people’s common musical and intellectual interests.

OBSERVATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS PARKLETSCrowded sidewalksDesigned for driving Exclusive to consumersLack of gathering spaceScattered used items

Expand public spacePlan for walkable activitiesProvide free entertainment Build more seating Organize space

MUSICKNOWLEDGE

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OUR BERKELEY BRANDWHERE PRIVATE CAPITAL INVESTS IN SOCIAL CAUSES Traditionally, parklets have served to improve the streetscape and increase public space. However, Berkeley’s culture of social change suggests that our parklets can go beyond aesthetics. The Berkeley Brand stands for design meant to build community and education through private-public partnerships. Each parklet will have its own personality based on a social need in its neighborhood. Parklets will be designed with recycled, locally sourced materials, have maps showing the city-wide parklet network, and be accessible to all.

1

2 3


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This is a mobile parklet, intended to provide affordable produce, gardening workshops, and healthy cooking demonstrations for people in areas with low accessibility to healthy food, low income, and high disease risk. The parklet features an array of planter boxes that are tended to by students from four participating schools during the week, and functions as a mobile farmers’ market and nutrition education outlet throughout South Berkeley on the weekends.

LOW INCOME AND LOW ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL

LOW INCOME AND LOW ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL + LOW VEHICLE ACCESS

SACREMEN

TO ST

California St

Ward St

Derby St

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pUrpOSe • Circulating throughout South Berkeley, where it will target areas with high volume pedestrian traffic and low accessibility to healthy food retail, this parklet will provide affordable produce from Berkeley’s vast network of community gardens and the sponsoring grocer

• the parklet will also host gardening workshops and healthy cooking demonstrations, and dispense free informational pamphlets providing healthy meal options and tips for sustaining healthy dietary practice

• LeConte elementary School, Malcolm X elementary School, Longfellow Arts and technology Middle School, and Berkeley technology Academy alternate hosting and tending to the parklet Monday through thursday

• the parklet will travel throughout South Berkeley, where rates of diet-related disease are highest and accessibility to fruits and vegetables is low

pOtentiAL SpOnSOr• private partner: A local grocer such as Berkeley Bowl or whole Foods• Public Partner: The Ecology Center, the Berkeley Community Garden Collaborative, the Berkeley Youth Alternatives Production Garden, SAGE, and any of Berkeley’s 30+ community and school gardens

FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE

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California St.

FENCE

4 ft 4 ft

20 ft 20 ft 20 ft

6 ft

5 ft

20 ft

5 ft

10ft

Longfellow Middle School

GARDENLAWN

PLANTER BOX

N

1500 Derby St

PROPOSED PARKLET LOCATION:18ft x 6 ft

4 ft REQUIRED PARKLET SETBACK(not to be included in parklet size)

GArden pArkLet

GArden pArkLet Site

LOCAtiOn

Planter Bench

10’ 8’ 10’

6’

The parklet is intended to maximize space for garden planters without compromising comfortable seating and aesthetic appeal.

Built atop two mobile, interconnected trailers, the parklet is designed to be easily transportable and physically adaptable so that it can be accomodated in areas where space may be limited.

the two conjoined trailers may be detached, allowing a spacious venue in between them for the farmers’ market and the cooking and gardening demonstrations.

25% of children living in South Berkeley are living in poverty

7.9% of housing units in South Berkeley lack complete kitchen facilities

why here?the median household income in South Berkeley is

11% lower than that of the city median

pLAn

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iSOnOMetriC perSpeCtive


Music for the People is meant to be a neighborly experience. This area has a unique mix of residential and commercial space that attracts many different types of people and purposes for being there. Inspired by the vibrant mural that frames the parklet site, music is intended to invite community members to take a break from their busy lives and to share in a collective experience. Our hope is that people will be drawn from their secluded spaces into the streets.

pUrpOSe• Opportunity to connect residents and retail patrons who currently feel dissociated from the corridor

• Avoid conflation of private and public space by being located on a residential street rather than directly in front of a sponsoring storefront

• Foster a sense of community by providing a venue for the public that hosts performances by the public

pOtentiAL SpOnSOrS • Private Partner: A collaboration of food establishments around the proposed site. Four have already expressed interest

• Public Partner: La Peña Cultural Center, which works to provide opportunities for artists to showcase their work

LOCAtiOn

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UNIVERSITY AVE

SAN PABLO

AVE

Addison St

Addison St

1078 Addison St.

Addison St.

RED PARKING ZONE

FENCE TELEPHONE POLE


N4 ft

20 ft 20 ft 20 ft

6 ft

9 ft

15 ft20 ft

PARKING

DRIV

EWAY

FIRE HYDRANT UTILITY SHED

PROPOSED PARKLET LOCATION: 32 ft x 6 ft

Mi Tierra Foods

MUSICFOR THE PEOPLE

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AddiSOn pArkLet Site

AddiSOn St. pArkLet • Located at 1078 Addison Street, by the corner of Addison and San Pablo Avenue

• The street is lined by cafes, an international market, and a handful of family-owned restaurants

• Whether visiting the post office, laundromat, grocery store, or restaurant, people rarely stop to enjoy the neighborhood

2”

2”

2”2” 12’ 12.5’ 7’

5’8”

30’ 6’ 9’

18’

2’ 6”

3”

The stage was designed to provide various options for seating and socializing. The stage is a space for hosting public performances. When the space isn’t being used, there is room under the stage to store the piano, chairs, and tables.

the piano is meant to draw people into the parklet. Anyone can use the piano. When it is not being played, the stage can be used as a picnic space. The chalkboard behind the piano invites people to sign up for performances and to announce events to the community.

this parklet is designed to be as musically interactive as possible. Moveable chairs function as drums. The back railing features xylophone paneling. The side railing incorporates harp strings. noise levels will be mitigated by street traffic, ivy hanging from the top railing, and the closed in alleyway.

64%of people interviewed did not identify themselves as connected with the community

84% of pedestrians were in the area to eat, yet only

36% arrived by foot or bicycle

72% reported that

they were unlikely to see people they know when walking in the neighborhood

WHY HERE?

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SeCtiOn view

• this mural draws people to the parklet site and sets the stage for a community gathering space


pOtentiAL SpOnSOrS • Private Partner: Any of the number of food and retail establishments on Telegraph that would benefit from increased foot traffic.

• Public partner: the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse

LOCAtiOn

pUrpOSe • Local students who move away each year leave behind household items which would be of use to other community members

• These and other goods from the Berkeley community are sent to landfills rather than into the hands of locals they could benefit, fostering a culture of waste rather than re-use

• Foster community interaction and promote public education regarding the value of recycling

TELEGRA

PH AVE

DURANT AVE

Channing Way

Bancroft Way

Haste St

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This parklet intends to facilitate interaction among the diverse populations of Telegraph. The parklet complements qualities of Berkeley: education, communalism, and sustainability. This parklet offers a venue where people can deposit books and other goods, as well as take those left by others. The ability to exchange goods in the parklet fits in with the culture of venders along Telegraph.

teLeGrAph Ave. pArkLet

teLeGrAph Ave. pArkLet Site

• One block from the proposed parklet location, we observed a pile of old books, records, CDs, and DVD’s. All of these items could be exchanged at the parklet

the design provides an open space and private space. this gives people the choice to be separated from the overwhelming atmosphere of Telegraph.

the roof of the parklet protects the goods in the parklet from the weather.

the left side of the parklet has bleacher seating for children and can be used for book readings, or small performances.

The parklet is made up of a series of cubbies for books and other items. The chairs have voids that allow for book storage, and will swivel so they can’t be stolen.

• telegraph Avenue: where an overabundance of loading zones would mean that a parklet would not congest the street or require meter removal

• in an area with a wealth of retail, lack of public seating, and a blend of inhabitants and visitors

90% of pedestrians surveyed come to Telegraph Ave. very often, and

92% come for food or shopping

44% of survey respondents feel connected to the community, while

56% do not

WHY HERE?

40’6’7’

16’

6’

Telegraph Ave.

WHITE PARKING STREET LIGHT

N

6 ft

7 ft

Pappy’s Grill2367 Telegraph Ave.

Smart Alec's Intelligent Food2355 Telegraph Ave.

Daiso 2369 Telegraph Ave.

4 ft

BIKE RACK TREE

PROPOSED PARKLET LOCATION16 ft x 6 ft


20 ft 20 ft

1’ 1’ 1’ 2’4’ 6” 8’ 6’’

1’

1’

4’

1’ 1’

KNOWLEDGEFOR THE PEOPLE

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SeCtiOn view


ASHBY AVE

ADELIN

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MA

RTIN LU

THER KIN

G JR W

AY

Wool St

Essex St

Emerson St

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These two identical parklets are relaxing oases in the concrete desert surrounding the Ashby BART station. They provide a much-needed opportunity for commuters to sit, rest, and recharge. Framed by existing planter boxes, these rest stations offer an array of accessible stress relief amenities such as comfortable seating, outlets for charging electronics, and speakers that play calming music. The design incorporates greenery to create a respite from the

pOtentiAL SpOnSOrS • private partner: Bayer pharmaceuticals, which could use the sponsorship to support its image as a locally-headquartered corporation concerned with “innovation and caring.” Parklets require funding, and Bayer has the capital to make this urban oasis a reality

• Public Partner: The YMCA, which offers mind-body wellness classes, or Berkeley’s Mental Health Division

LOCAtiOn

pUrpOSe • Commuting is strongly correlated with elevated stress levels and related health problems such as pain, hypertension, and loneliness

• Parklet will attract some of the 3,934 diverse passengers entering and exiting the Ashby station daily, while acting as a place-making device near transit

• As the rest parklet network grows, it will normalize the association of stress reduction with commuting

RESTFOR THE PEOPLE

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AdeLine St. pArkLet Site

WHITE PARKING ZONE STREET LIGHT PLANTER BOX WALLOVERHANG

Adeline St.

N

BIKE LANE

CROSSWALK

STAI

RS

5 ft5 ft

10 ft

25 ft 25 ft25 ft10 ft 15 ft

• Located on the eastern side of the Ashby BART station, alongside Adeline Street

• First of a network of rest stations located adjacent to transit nodes in Berkeley

AdeLine St. pArkLet

trellises create an environment in which commuters feel as though they are in a traditional park or even their own backyard.

The parklets’ functional yet minimalist design creates a clutter-free and restful environment while complementing the aesthetic of the BArt station.

• the parklets are positioned on the sidewalk to activate underutilized space rather than replace a heavily used parking spot in the loading zone

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58% 40% 33%

WHY HERE?

of commuters feel stress during travel

of commuters experience worry during travel

of commuters experience neck or back pain

5’ 15’ 1’ 6” 5’1’ 6”

1’ 6”

1’ 6”

5’

Benches around the planters incorporate shelves where commuters can leave newspapers and magazines.


This parklet highlights the opportunities that art has to offer. It creates a supportive and collaborative atmosphere in which people of all ages can experiment with their creativity on large chalkboard walls, and showcase their work to the public. The parklet embodies Youth Spirit Artwork’s (YSA) ideology of fostering self-advocacy through art.

pOtentiAL SpOnSOrS • private partner: Blick Art Materials• Public Partner: Youth Spirit Artworks

LOCAtiOn

pUrpOSe • Provide Berkeley’s low-income youth with valuable opportunities not just for artistic involvement but for art job training

• visually enhance the streetscape in which it is located• Activate public space through the promotion of community involvement in art• provide much needed green space to the area • provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment for at-risk youth

ALCATRAZ AVE

ADELIN

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Ellis St

King St

YSA

Headquarters

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Youth Spirit Artworks

Alcatraz Ave.

FENCE 4 ft REQUIRED PARKLET SETBACK(not to be included in parklet size)

N

4 ft 4 ft

20 ft 20 ft 20 ft4 ft

DRI

VEW

AY

9 ft

6 ft

15 ft

PROPOSED PARKLET LOCATION: 32 ft x 6 ft

TREE

1738 Alcatraz Ave. Kiwi Pediatrics Medical Group1744 Alcatraz Ave.

Pats Hair Debonaire1736 Alcatraz Ave.

Mr. Gillium Hair Care and Design 1730 Alcatraz Ave.

ART FOR THE PEOPLE

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ALCAtrAZ St. pArkLet Site

The exterior walls of the parklet will be covered with murals by the artists at ySA, drawing attention to the space while also showcasing the opportunities for self-discovery, entrepreneurship and empowerment that art provides.

irregular juxtaposition of the site lines was designed to provide inspiration to ‘think outside the box’, contradicting the regimented nature of the urban grid.

ALCAtrAZ St. pArkLet • On Alcatraz Street near lower Adeline Street, an area that lacks public space and is home to youth Spirit Artworks

1’ 13’16’ 1’ 1’

1’ 2’ 9’ 7.5’ 10.5’ 3’

4.5’

1.5’ 1’

3’

2’

• YSA is an art jobs training program which is committed to empowering and bettering the lives of homeless and low-income Bay Area youth

20’

9’ 6’ 40’

3’

1’

4’

2’

Roughly half of South Berkeley’s population consists of African-Americans

who are 1/4 as likely as whites

to graduate from college

20.2% ofall households in

South Berkeley

are single-mother

households, compared to the

city average of

9%

33% of South Berkeley residents have less than a high school diploma, compared to the city average of

5%

WHY HERE?

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SeCtiOn view

To maximize floor space the greenery is placed along the top of the barrier walls.



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inStrUCtOrS: F. Burga, E. Abuahmdi, w. Logan, & G. wessel

6 North Shattuck: Existing business interest and high pedestrian traffic create an appealing parklet setting

7 Downtown Berkeley: Rich in community assets yet in need of a community building device

8 North Berkeley BART: Potential extension of the relaxation parklet network

9 North San Pablo: Lacks neighborhood assets that could be added through a parklet

West Berkeley: Lower income area that could benefit from health and education amenities

What is essential for our Berkeley Brand to become a feasible and successful PARKLET STANDARD?

6

7

89

10

Parklets are appealing spaces where public needs and private enterprise meet to creatively activate communities

Everyone will feel comfortable spending time in Berkeley’s parklets

Parklets are nodes of education and cohesion that address neighborhood speci�c needs

CONCEPT EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSE

CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE OF REPURPOSED PARKLETS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

STRUCTURE

To structure parklet design, implementation, and maintnenance, we suggest:

Creating an online forum for businesses to match with public social interest groups

Appointing an ambassador from the City of Berkeley to streamline the parklet process

PRACTICALITYParklets must be user-friendly to increase public equity

Designs should incorporate amenities that reflect the neighborhood character

Locations should be determined based on demonstrated need

INNOVATIONPracticality must be balanced with innovation

Making a positive social impact should be the ultimate goal of every parklet

People should think creatively when partnering public and private interests to design spaces that create more than sidewalk appeal

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The BERKELEY BRAND embodies this innovation in parklet function, and can be applied to sites beyond the ones we have selected.

“Facilitate private sector engagement in improvements to publicly owned spaces”

Documents

BERKELEY PPUBLIC PARKLETS ARKLET FOR THE PEOPLEced.berkeley.edu/downloads/gallery/incity/su13/incity... · 2013. 10. 3. · inCity 201 Audrey Bullwinkel, Jonny Faerstein, Zoé Lewis,