In Los Angeles (L.A.) the most recent downtown L.A. art walk, March 14, is now history. Some art exhibited may never be available for public viewing again. One site sure to be visible for many more art walks is the Spring Street parklet (between Sixth and Seventh streets). The parklet model is imported from San Francisco's Pavement to Parks program.
If you look up the definition of park, you will find the noun definition is "a large public green area in a town, used for recreation". Parklets are small public areas formerly dedicated to parked cars repurposed as a public green area (parking spot to park place). The Spring Street parklet is the first with swings (two) and exercise bikes (two). Official parklet opening day was Feb. 7, 2013.
With the continued growth and success of the downtown L.A. art walk, business has grown. The number of opportunities for people to make this area their home, making this area an urban neighborhood, has grown too.
The Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) spearheaded the creation of this parklet. DLANC installed a temporary parklet site in 2011. Passers-by were asked to answer an informal survey about the amenities they would like to see in parklets. Results pointed at an overall comfort level with the concept.
If you are wondering if parklets are the world's smallest parks, they are not. That award appears to go to Mills Ends Park in downtown Portland, Oregon. According to the definition of park, this author isn't convinced it actually qualifies as a park (can it be used for recreation?). Still, this information was found on the internet. It must be true, right?
Nevertheless, a place to go swinging in downtown L.A. that is "G-rated" fun, now what would be better than that?
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