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pocket p ark s

Pocket Park on Main Street (Texarkana, AR)

Pocket parks are urban open spaces on a
small-scale and provide a safe and inviting
environment for surrounding community
members. They also meet a variety of needs
and functions, including: small event space,
play areas for children, spaces for relaxing
or meeting friends, taking lunch breaks, etc.
Successful “pocket parks” have four key
qualities: they are accessible; allow people
to engage in activities; are comfortable
spaces and have a good image; and finally,
are sociable places: one where people meet
each other and take people to when they come
to visit. (National Parks and Recreation
Association) https://www.nrpa.org/contentas-
sets/f768428a39aa4035ae55b2aaff372617/
pocket-parks.pdf

In designing the park, the comfort of its visitors was
the top priority for William Paley and his landscape
architects. For this reason, they opted for light,
moveable mesh chairs and tables that gave people
options and flexibility in choosing where and how
they want to organize themselves. Even though Paley
Park feels like a quiet, private oasis, it is heavily used
due to its central location and design that makes it
easily accessible and visible to passer-bys on the
street. https://www.pps.org/places/paley-park

John F. Collins Park (Philadelphia, PA)

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