Playful Parklet in Melbourne

Researchers at RMIT University, Melbourne, have developed a non-commercial parklet designed to provide a place to play and meet in public spaces – a so-called “playful parklet”. Such a parklet was installed at various locations in Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, in 2021/22. Read more about the idea and concept of the “playful parklet” and the researchers’ findings to date here.

Playful parklets for spending time without consumption

Parklets or “Schanigärten” have popped up everywhere during the pandemic. They allowed restaurants to set up outdoor seating and repurpose street spaces. The idea behind them was to counteract the loss of indoor gastronomy and limited seating. And thus make up for an economic loss. For public spaces, however, it means much more when traffic areas are used. Areas that were previously mostly reserved for cars are suddenly being used by passers-by. However, this use is usually linked to consumption. The parklet is reserved for visitors to the respective restaurant. A project by RMIT University is breaking this dependency. The researchers from Melbourne developed the Playful Parklet. They have been installing non-commercial parklets at several locations in Melbourne since 2021. In doing so, they created a meeting place that is not associated with consumption. Instead, they created urban spaces that invite people to play and linger. And in spaces that previously had a different connotation.

The Playful Parklet as a symbiosis of theory and practice

The project combines theory and practice. In addition to the researchers from RMIT University, participants from various disciplines took part. Artists, performers and local authorities realized the project together. It all started with the idea of transforming the traditional gastro-parklet into a public space. In order to put this goal into practice, the researchers began with broad research. Between February and June 2021, they examined a total of 594 parklets throughout the Melbourne metropolitan region. This was followed by the actual implementation of the Playful Parklets in practice.

Implementation in the Stonnington urban area

In December of the same year, those responsible for the Playful Parklet project met with representatives of the Stonnington City Council. During the research work, a collaboration between RMIT and the local council emerged. The collaboration had benefits for both sides. For example, the Playful Parklets initiators undertook to set up and dismantle the parklet on site. They also organized a schedule of events. In return, the City of Stonnington took care of internal community decisions. Or communicating with those affected. Together they agreed on the first locations for prototypes in the neighborhood. As soon as these were finalized, the next phase of the project began.

Further development of the standard parklet

Parallel to the location scouting, those responsible were already making arrangements for this. Production of the first Playful Parklets began in November 2021. The RMIT researchers collaborated with Greenevent on this. The company employs horticulturists, landscape gardeners and florists. And already had experience in the subject at the start of the project. In the past, they had realized well over 200 parklets in the greater Melbourne area. This resulted in a repertoire of shapes and materials that had become established in various areas. The Standard Parklet is twelve meters long, almost two meters wide and enclosed on three sides by an 80-centimeter-high fence. For the Playful Parklet project, the participants made a few small changes. For example, they installed a low stage. They also added two benches to the structure. Finally, they also integrated a small planter box. The RMIT research team designed the additional elements and also produced them themselves in the university workshop.

The Playful Parklet as a focal point in the neighborhood

The additional elements were intended to extend the range of uses of the parklets compared to the standard design. The Playful Parklet will continue to be used for communal dining. However, it is intended to be much more than that. For example, the parklet in its enhanced form offers a stage for workshops. It also creates space for live music and installations. Depending on the local community and participation, different activities can be established on site. And indeed, the parklets evolved depending on the environment. A small bookcase was set up at one location. At another, the seating area was expanded with deckchairs. Elsewhere, board games, Lego bricks and crayons were soon added to the inventory. The demands on the parklet are quite ambitious. The hope is that the mobile structure and the activities could take on important functions in underserved neighborhoods. The observed additions to the initial situation are considered a success in this respect.

Findings of the project

In addition to many positive effects, the researchers also acknowledge some shortcomings. They accompanied the process with online surveys, observations and interviews on site. This enabled them to gain general insights based on the prototypes. And identify where there is room for improvement. For example, they describe it as a major challenge to encourage passers-by to interact with the Playful Parklet in the first place. The physical form and the event program need to be revised accordingly. The design process is far from complete. Optimization is needed in several areas. One major shortcoming, for example, was the lack of protection from the weather. The respective equipment could also be improved.

Looking to the future

Nevertheless, those responsible see the Playful Parklet project as a success. Above all, the collaboration with actors from a wide range of fields has been a success. The reproducibility and certain simplicity of the parklets as such also offer great potential for cities. Depending on the location and context, it can respond to the requirements of a neighborhood. And thus represent a high-quality component in the public space. For the researchers and those involved, a continuation of the project is obvious.

In Québec, the planners at Quinzhee and Atelier Mock/up were inspired by rice terraces. Read more about the project here.

You can find more articles on exciting parklet projects in our special feature: Parklets