Contexts and clustering

Abstract

While parklets have thrived in many cities since the COVID-19 pandemic, different local contexts have framed different opportunities and challenges regarding their functions, forms, locations, management and benefits. Extending the mapping analysis in Chapter 3, this chapter examines how the placement and utility of parklets have been shaped by a wide range of urban design factors. To do so, it comparatively analyses the spatial distributions and functions of major clusters of commercial hospitality parklets in three different urban settings: the Mission District in San Francisco, Boxhagenerkiez in Berlin and Fitzroy/Collingwood in Melbourne. All three are dense, walkable, lively mixed-use neighbourhoods with good transport connections. Both San Francisco and Berlin also have numerous fully public, non-commercial parklets that have different spatial distributions. The chapter examines the varying size, centrality, density, accessibility and land use patterns of the commercial clusters that host parklets, and the specific types of businesses located in them. The analysis identifies critical differences in the city’s street networks, hierarchies and topographies, and their street widths, orientations and functional allocations. The chapter also maps and explains changes in parklet numbers and distributions during and since the COVID-19 pandemic.