A new permanent parklet is now open in Hackney. We want to create four more.

We successfully opened a permanent community parklet in Hackney in August complete with a incredible launch event featuring local residents, speeches and music. 

In collaboration with Hackney Council and co-working space One and a Half Ardleigh Road, the parklet was officially opened for locals to use and enjoy. The Ardleigh Road parklet was funded by Places Called Home.

A parklet is a tiny park set up in place of a parking space offering greenery, a place to sit, meet people, and connect with local communities. It also reclaims the space from our car congested streets and gives it another purpose for local residents, such as increasing biodiversity.

The parklet is set on a quiet residential road in Hackney which already has a low-traffic neighbourhood in place next to a bustling pub with a garden. It was planted with beautiful plants and flowers that will be maintained by One and a Half Ardleigh Road or any residents wanting to get involved with community projects.

Carolyn Axtell, Parklets Campaign Manager, said: “We had been trying to find a location for a permanent parklet for the better part of two years but it was really difficult to get permission and support from local authorities to repurpose a parking space for this. Thank you to Hackney Council for leading the way in challenging the prevailing norms around how our streets are used.”

Parklets are just one tool in efforts to reduce traffic in cities. As the UK ramps up its fight to reduce its carbon emissions, reducing private vehicle use will become more and more important.

“The goal is to see more councils in London following the example of Hackney, Waltham Forest, Lambeth, and Hounslow in creating parklet permit processes that will enable communities to have a greater say and role in how their streets are used.

“We want to work with community groups, schools, places of worship, foodbanks, and residents groups, to create four more new parklets in London over the coming months,” Axtell said.

Are you part of a group which could benefit from outdoor space on your street? Is your local area lacking in green space and seating for older people or those with mobility impairments? 

We want to work with you to design and create parklets for community benefit.

The Parklets campaign at Possible is a legacy from our Car Free Cities campaign, which aimed to challenge car dominance in cities and accelerate change in the shift away from car use.