What if spots meant for parking private vehicles instead went to the public? The ‘parklet’ concept was tried on for the first time in the city on Saturday – allowing citizens to visualise a reclaimed parking spot. Imagine a ‘temporary’ park, replete with pots and plants, where citizens can paint, or partake in conversations on benches, created in a space otherwise taken by a car.
“This was the first time we organised such an activity and are already receiving requests from different sectors in HSR Layout, Yelahanka and Malleswaram for the same. We plan to take this idea to different parts of the city,” said Manju George, program manager at ESAF that organised the event at HSR Layout.
Among those who visited the temporary park was Renuka Krishnamurthy, a resident. “This is a good way to coax children to come out and play. It is a platform for them to learn new games and make friends. I’m witnessing this for the first time,” she said.
Rao Ganesh J., an inspector at HSR Layout Traffic Police Station, said, “We are happy to see such a concept. A non-living object is moved to make space for living beings to participate in activities. We have done a lot for this area. We are happy to see people use the footpath so efficiently.”
