It’s no secret that green spaces are more scarce these days – plain and simple, the majority of urban areas just don’t have room for standard recreation spots and trails.
This includes parks, a pivotal element in providing the public with a safe and free way to get outside and exercise. If you live in a dense city with insufficient land for a full park, what solutions are available?
We have one for you: ‘Pocket parks.’ Yes, just like the early 90s Polly Pocket toy phenomenon (a hand-held pocket toy that featured miniature settings and people), pocket parks are minimalistic, condensed versions of the original. They have similar amenities, just downsized and maximized for efficiency.
However, unlike the popular toy, pocket parks aren’t about playing pretend; they’re compact, convenient, and designed to allow for a range of movement even in a smaller space. What’s more, they also take up areas that are often underutilized.
Classic Displays is your local Canadian provider of accessible site furniture and holiday displays/decor. We’ll take you through the wondrous world of pocket parks and what site furniture can help enhance their accessibility, style, and functionality.
A pocket park, sometimes referred to as a parkette or mini-park, refers to a small public outdoor space, often no bigger than an urban lot, designed to offer access to greenery and recreational opportunities in densely populated areas.
Key Characteristics:
Size: Pocket parks are small – often not exceeding more than a single acre.
Location: They tend to be found in underutilized areas like vacant lots, alleys, or spaces between buildings, making use of overlooked spaces.
Purpose: These green spaces offer a place for relaxation, socialization, or small-scale activities for residents and visitors.
Features: Often include benches, landscaping, playground equipment, walking paths, or public art.
Accessibility: Pocket parks are designed to be easily accessible to pedestrians, especially in urban neighbourhoods where traditional parks are scarce.
Pocket parks are perfect for young kids and parents alike, providing a suitable space to get into the outdoors and exercise. Not only this, but with the addition of some accessible site furniture and trails, everyone can enjoy this bite-sized green space in their own way.
According to Statistics Canada, approximately 90% of Ontario's population lives in urban areas. These urban areas are defined by residing within a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) or Census Agglomeration (CA). Looking back on the 2021 Census, 12,799,840 Ontarians lived in either CMAs or CAs. Only 10% of that population resided outside of these urban zones.
The rise of families living in more urbanized areas increases the need for accessible green spaces such as pocket parks. Pocket parks utilize limited space with the help of ergonomic design and ingenuity. This not only means children can get out to play in a convenient community area, but parents and loved ones alike have a good reason to get outside.
But what other benefits do pocket parks provide?
While cities and urban centres continue to grow, larger areas of land are starting to diminish. By implementing intelligently designed pocket parks, cities can use practical solutions by repurposing otherwise overlooked spaces. This offers urban dwellers ample access to the outdoors, while cities don’t have to go through extensive land acquisitions and deal with high development costs.
Studies have shown that green spaces reduce stress, promote physical activity, and positively impact social interaction. Pocket parks act as amazing gathering spots and foster a stronger sense of community – even in areas that would otherwise be overlooked and forgotten about.
Having a local hub is great for the neighbourhood at large, providing plenty of places to sit and relax, while also creating opportunities to connect with the broader community. Outdoor public benches in pocket parks are a perfect addition when it comes to creating a social club for your neighbours.
Classic Displays’ Urban Flare Bench and Ergo Bench are stylish, sturdy, and accessible to the public. They create a welcoming environment for the community to sit and chat while the kids and youth enjoy the playground.
On top of having accessible site furniture, creating pocket parks also includes adding additional greenery to the area. More greenery means greater mitigation of urban heat islands, improving air quality, and supporting biodiversity. This is particularly true for planters with native flora and greenery, which offer ample opportunities for local pollinators and wildlife to benefit.
Want some excellent options to make your space greener? Check out our Hosta Planter and our Urban Tree Guard.
Parenthood is beautiful, but sometimes, it can feel isolating. Especially for new and/or single parents.
A systematic review showed that 33% of new parents report "always" or "often" feeling lonely, while 82% said they experience loneliness at least "occasionally." A 2024 review also found that one-third of parents regularly experienced loneliness.
Providing a central hub in an otherwise bustling city can take the intimidation factor out of putting oneself out there and making deeper connections. This applies to both parents and children alike.
Getting back into the community and making meaningful connections for both kids and parents is mutually beneficial. Oftentimes, parents may be nervous to bring their children into busy urban spaces in fear of disrupting the space. Having a dedicated space that is designed for kids and socialization ensures parents can have a chat and a breather while their kiddos gets some much-needed exercise.
Studies have shown that, in the context of densifying urban areas, environmental factors, vegetation types, and the size and connectivity of green spaces are associated with physical and mental health outcomes. These benefits were seen more commonly in populations that had more tree canopies. Qualities including safety, cleanliness, and aesthetics were also closely observed in the study.
How do you keep things stylish, clean, and filled with fun? Have some site furniture to help get the job done. Consider having plenty of areas to dispose of waste and recycling, while also offering ample bike racks to allow cyclists to safely travel and store their equipment.
Imagine an empty, unutilized space in an urban city; it’s filled with trash, its footpaths are unused, and the surrounding area is drab and barren. Then, the city makes the decision to convert it into a pocket park, breathing fresh, new life into an otherwise forgotten community space. Now, a spot that was previously seen as undesirable or unusable has been carefully crafted into a multi-functional space that has plenty of perks. This effort is not only largely cost-effective, but it also makes valuable use of a limited space, providing the community with a safe, secure, accessible area for everyone to enjoy.
OK, we’ve explored the perks of pocket parks and given you some ideas, but what does a pocket park TRULY need to be complete? Let’s explore:
Accessible Seating and Comfort Areas: This includes benches and picnic tables that are accessible to adults, children, the elderly, and people with physical limitations. These areas should have ample space between park equipment and walkways in case additional clearance is required.
Some examples include: Our Traditional Bench, Victorian Bench, and AccessAbility Table.
Park Equipment: This includes compact park equipment like slides, interactive panels, and swings, as well as exercise equipment like pull-up bars.
Waste & Recycling Bins: This green space needs to be kept clean and tidy for everyone to be able to enjoy it, so having areas to safely dispose of waste and recycling is necessary.
Some examples include: Our Glasdon Jubilee Duo Waste Receptacle and our Tidy Bear Novelty Bin.
Walkways & Greenery: Having simple trails nearby the area allows for easy access for those looking to enter and exit the park easily, while also having the option to go on a leisurely stroll. Also, having additional greenery for aesthetics and ecological purposes is a must, especially for pollinators looking to do their thing!
Some examples include: Our Parkdale Planter and our Urban Flare Planter.
If you need a compact, innovative way to create a stunning green space, look no further than Classic Displays. While we’re well known for our impressive holiday displays and decor, we’re also experts in versatile and accessible site furniture. From benches, bins, and pots of greenery, you can trust us to provide everything you need for a functional and safe pocket park. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!
Log In / Register
