Parklet … said just like it sounds: park-let.
And, like other words with the diminutive “-let” suffix …
booklet, piglet …
it means the miniature version of its root word, park.
So, parklet = tiny park.
The cool thing about parklets, though, is that they’re not just small-space parks (that’s more the territory of the parklet’s cousin, the pocket park). A parklet is more of a pop-up type of park that may just, well, pop up in unexpected urban places. Often, it’s little more than a spiffy sidewalk extension that provides a bit of greenery and/or sitting spaces for passersby.
Photo by San Francisco Planning Department via Flickr
“Parklets are intended for people,” says Wikipedia. “They offer a place to stop, to sit, and to rest while taking in the activities of the street. A parklet may be thought of as permanent, but must be designed for quick and easy removal for emergencies or other reasons such as snow removal without damage to the curb or street. As initially conceived, a parklet is always open to the public.”
In 2010, San Francisco began the world’s first parklet project—five pilot projects in four neighborhoods around the city—conceived by London-based designer Suzi Bolognese. This is one of the originals:
Photo by Salty Boatr via Wikimedia Commons
Since then, parklets have started popping up in cities around the world, like this lovely 2016 installation in Lodz, Poland:
Photo by Zorro 2212 via Wikimedia Commons
If your city needs a parklet or two, you might be just the gal to get them going. For ideas and how-to tips, turn your local planning department. But first, you might take a peek at Seattle’s handy Parklet Handbook, which details the application process as well as requirements for designing, permitting, building, and maintaining your parklet. It includes expected timelines for each phase of the project and estimated costs. You’ll also find tips for assembling a team and funding your parklet. The handbook is specific to Seattle, but it’ll help point you in the right direction.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Cyndie Parzuhoski!
Cyndie Parzuhoski (cyndieparz72, #7407) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Shopping Green Merit Badge!
“Per the requirements, I purchased 5 reusable shopping bags. I purchased 5 natural-fiber shopping bags: 4 cotton and 1 jute. I did this because purchasing “#5 reusable shopping bags” defeats the purpose or eliminating plastic, since they are made from polypropylene. Also, 4 of them benefit causes I believe in deeply—animal rights, saving the bees, and the empowerment of women in other countries.
I pledge to use these for every shopping trip from this day forward, and I also have 5 additional reusable bags on order at this time (also from causes close to my heart).
The bags are phenomenal and serve 2 purposes—shopping green and benefiting causes.”
Are you one? A nemophilist, that is?
I suspect you are.
No, it’s not a lover of the little fish from the Pixar film, though we like him, too.
Photo by zannaland via Wikimedia Commons.
Here’s a hint:
photo by Jason Sturner – Rockefeller Forest, Humboldt Redwoods State Park – Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) via Wikimedia Commons
nemophilist
Ne`moph´i`list
NOUN
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The Atlantic Monthly.
Ah ha! A lover of woods and forests. Fireplace smoke, pinecones, needle-coated hiking trails, shady glens, and majestic firs … what’s not to love?
Hi, my name’s MaryJane, and I’m a nemophilist.
There is no cure.
“I know nothing of man’s rights
or woman’s rights;
human rights are all
that I recognize.”
– Sarah Moore Grimke, suffragist, 1837
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
