Auckland Council/Transport have been very quiet about the installation the first Parklet in Auckland. It’s gone up at the very Northern end of Albert St, outside Movenpick. It looks great and the thing that struck me most was how much nicer the footpath felt due to its presence
Nice work to whoever was involved
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I had dinner on Saturday night with some old high school friends, and we stumbled across this and stopped for a spontaneous photo. Didn’t realise it was the first parklet in Auckland, just knew that it brought a little bit more fun to our night!
Very cool.
But what’s with the 44-gallon drum motif?
Yes, is one meant to drape oneself across those blue and white striped thingys? Same action applies for the green lawn roller on the other side?
Lots more of these parklets please AT/AC…and in various styles.
Pretty bizarre looking parklet, nice for some greenery but I’m not sure those seats are particularly comfortable.
The one with the green astroturf is actually reasonably comfortable for four adults to sit on, I’m not sure about the blue and white rollers.
Nice. Good one. Love the use of the rubbish bins as planters!
http://www.heartofthecity.co.nz/article/quay-street-parklet
Why must something like this be only temporary?
Don’t worry. “Temporary” is how it starts.
Have the chalkies worked out where to put the ticket for overstaying the P5. 🙂
It’ll be interesting to see if this re-allocation of space (including barriers) will help to fill up those empty seats on the footpath.
Indeed!
I love this part of town and I sincerely hope that having more public amenities like the parklet helps to draw people there. I have seen the seats in use by people who didn’t appear to have been Movenpick customers, so there is some hope!
The only thing I don’t like about that area – Too much traffic (particularly private cars).
“The only thing I don’t like about that area – Too much traffic (particularly private cars).”
Bring on the narrowing of Quay Street by at least two traffic lanes in total. Hear predictions of gridlock. Do it anyway. Find it works. Do it now, not in 5+ years after another three studies.
Is that, is it…ACTION!?
What the hell? AT/AC is actually doing something? Have I woken up in a wonderful parallel universe where our urban masters actually want to improve Auckland?
I was impressed with the Parket when I checked it out on Monday and great to see it installed. The Waitemata Local Board has been pushing for quick win Parklets for a number of years (an idea sure to have been borrowed from this blog!). It is officially part of the “Quay Street Early Initiatives project” being run by the Council’s City Transformation Team. Expect more pop up surprises including a Ciclovia type event in February.
Waste of money
What money? Looks like a few hours labour to install some cheap reusable items. I mean a couple of garbage bins filled with grasses, and a trailer load of sand. We’re talking costs in the hundreds here. Considering we’re all to happy to spend ten grand per car park at the arse end of Albany I can’t see anyone calling this a waste of money. This budget would have paved about a square metre of shared space, or about half an inch of motorway.
Still a waste of money
Why? Come on, a little evidence or discussion please.
Exactly. I looks like they’ve reused some old Parks items. The bins could be old ACC or WCC bins. Is that an old sports field roller?
Why? Apologies if I don’t get all “the emperor has new clothes” about some sand and flower pots put in a car parking space.
Then you just don’t get it. It doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Had a closer look today. They’re not sports field rollers but rather some other cheaper item. The green and blue-white nylon grass is apparently courtesy of a firm called TigerTurf whose logo features prominently (sponsored parklet?).
Anyway looks a little sad in the flesh and can’t imagine anyone racing to chill there on a racetrack corner otherwise as unreformed as ever. Not that I want AT to stop trying though, this stuff is still headed in a worthwhile direction.
Cool – now we need some kids down there to give it the once over for play value – then ice creams all round!
“Considering we’re all to happy to spend ten grand per car park at the arse end of Albany I can’t see anyone calling this a waste of money.”
If they really were in the arse end of Albany then they might be a better investment, but they have no connection to the body of Albany1
The choice of plants is a little sad – sharp edges, windswept look. I wish the Council would emove the edict that all new city planting has to be of native varieties.
in the top photo, is that the parking warden scratching his head!!