A pocket park is a small park accessible to the general public.
Pocket parks are frequently created on a single vacant building lot or on
small, irregular pieces of land. Wikipedia
A Google search on this topic yielded lots of information not
only about the benefits of green spaces in busy urban environments but also
findings from specific projects around the world. Anyone who has visited New
York will be familiar with the fabulous pocket parks that have grown up around
the city. The impact of pocket parks in cities such as Philadelphia with high
crime rates and dysfunctional communities is described in the following extract
Research
from Philadelphia ‘has found that distressed neighborhoods where vacant lots have
been converted into small parks and community green spaces are associated with
reduced crime when compared to neighborhoods with unimproved vacant lots.
In some sections of the city, residents of neighborhoods with improved vacant
lots also reported ‘significantly less stress and more exercise,’ suggesting
that the improvements had an effect on residents’ perceptions of safety
outdoors.'
I am sure
most would agree that Tighes Hill boasts two outstanding examples of how the
conversion of vacant sites into community gardens has contributed to the
physical and emotional well-being of individual residents and to the general
sense of safety and neighbourliness that exists within the suburb. More
recently the residents of Mitchell St and surrounds used a vacant site on
Throsby creek to create a pop up pocket park with minimal resources but maximum
benefit for its users
And there
can be no doubt that the work undertaken in Islington Park over recent years
has had huge benefits in changing the image of the park, creating a stronger
sense of ownership and community pride and contributing to the overall wellbeing
of those who use the park.
There may
be a number of potential pocket park sites around Tighes Hill ranging from
larger spaces that can be used for recreational purposes to smaller spaces that
once cleaned and greened may generate a stronger sense of ownership and pride.
An additional benefit might be that those passing through our suburb see that
we care about our physical environment
One such
spot is a small irregular plot of ground on the shoulder of the bridge at the
end of Bryant St - anyone using the
steps that lead from Bryant St down to Tighes Terrace will be familiar with the
site. In recent times there have been some attempts to clean and green the area
the most recent being to remove weeds, cut grass and lay mulch – courtesy of
Kings Rd Community garden.
In spite of the dry conditions cuttings of low
growing shrubs have survived providing the motivation to persevere with the
project. Not surprisingly the activity at the site has been the impetus for
interaction with numerous passers- by whose comments have been encouraging and
whose conversation has provided insights and stories about the suburb.
Anyone passing this site is welcome to pull a weed or two
or pour a bottle of water on the plants – identified by small wooden stakes at
the site of the plant.
Is there
an area crying out to be a pocket park near you?It's great to have some feedback, so please leave me some comments.
