The idea is simple. In many towns there are odd intersections where roads cross at odd angles, The dead zones are dealt with randomly, perhaps just zebra striped, or with a raised paved area, or perhaps a few random parking spots. So why not build cheap parks there with big logs to sit on and native plants that require no maintenance. An urban eden.
Except that you are now sitting in the worst part of any real park, the part you always scuttle away from to the park interior. Who wants to sit literally in the middle of the street with the noise and fumes? Pavement to Parks
I seem to remember that shortly after the first Survivor show started Jay Leno did a bit with people stranded on one of these. Can’t remember if it was funny or not,
We just got one of those. Nicer to look at than a bunch of pavement, but the Streetscapes Committee went a trifle overboard with cramming as much stuff as possible into the space at hand. It is complete with arches at all three entrances (so, like, twelve feet apart from each other) labeling it “Peterson Park,” a fountain, and the ugliest bronze statue ever. It’s at a moderately busy intersection with hardly any pedestrians, so no one uses it as a park (especially since there’s a 100+ acre real park two blocks away, with the exception of some weirdos who had a wedding ceremony there shortly after its inception. (My guess is that they were somehow involved in getting the park idea funded and were in total denial about how non-parklike the end result was).
I think they’re pretty, green, and I’m so they’re better for the environment than just a big block of concrete (even those little trees use SOME CO2 and produce SOME O2).
I don’t think they’re designed to be a respite… more to be pretty.
I like the “pocket parks” that just use a vacant lot on a residential street. Enough room for a kiddie playground and a picnic table and a couple of benches. And out of traffic entirely.
