OLUWOLE POCKET PARK
AIM:
To provide greenery, a place to sit outdoor and to provide a safe and inviting environment for surrounding community members of Adelabu Road in Surulere.
ADVANTAGES:
Benefit the overall ecology of the surrounding environment. Make communities more sociable and reinforce relationships. Improve fitness and health for surrounding community. LOCATION: Street-end of Adelabu Road; at the intersection with Increase the value of nearby homes Animashaun Road in Surulere Local Government, Lagos State. and neighbouring property values.
OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE
129051081
INTRODUCTION
Pocket Parks
They are usually developed on vacant lots or irregular pieces of land. They literally form a small pocket among other buildings. These little parks can bring shade, quiet, and enhanced property values to blighted areas, and they often turn up in unexpected places. They are not necessary always urban, but can be found in small towns and in low-density areas. For example, small parks located near street-ends at the coast have been termed pocket parks because they are adjacent to residences. Pocket parks are generally too small for physical activities and may be locked or gated when not in use.
Design Guidelines
Pocket parks vary widely in appearance and character. Communities should come together to decide upon a parks design and uses. However, some elements of a pocket park are essential. To discourage illegal activity, most of the park should be highly visible from the street. The community should provide trash cans that are emptied frequently, as well as regular maintenance. It should have at least one shade tree.
Uses.
Pocket parks are best for passive activities such as picnics, sun bathing, reading, nature appreciation, board games, socializing, community meetings, and art appreciation . Still, recreational activities like basketball and childrens play are certainly possible.
Possible Accessories.
Benches, picnic tables, caf tables, a sundeck, playground equipment, a half basketball court, board game tables, outdoor games (shuffleboard and hopscotch), a flower garden, a botanical garden, public art, lawns, fountains, statuary. OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE 129051081
FEW THINGS ABOUT POCKET PARKS
STREETSCAPING OF ADELABU ROAD, SURULERE, LAGOS STATE.
One of the unique and exciting characteristics of pocket parks are that they may be created out of vacant lots or otherwise forgotten spaces. Unfortunately, they are sometimes easier to create than to maintain because without functional design, community support, use and maintenance, they may fall into disrepair. However, greenery within pocket parks can help regulate microclimates and act as the lungs of the city, while permeable surfaces increase infiltration. The establishment of pocket parks throughout the urban environment also has the potential to benefit the overall ecology of cities because communities who have parks that meet their needs within walking distance are less likely to drive far away for the same resources, thereby reducing pollution, traffic and the consumption of resources such as oil. LOCATION: Adelabu road is located adjacent to Ogunlana drive in Surulere Local Government area of Lagos State. A major roundabout divides Adelabu road from that of Ogunlana. A look into Adelabu road clearly shows that majority of buildings situated along the road are one storey building with a dual carriage way constructed with a walkway. Pocket park is here christened OLUWOLE POCKET PARK. LANDMARKS: Street lights are installed in the middle of the road. Mini business centres are found along the road with one notable organization which is the Regional Training Centre of National Power Training Institute of Nigeria. Animashaun estate is located to the extreme of the road.
OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE 129051081
PROFILE
PHILADELPHIAS POCKET PARKS:
LOCATION: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania DATES CREATED: 1961-1967 NUMBER OF PARKS CREATED: 60 SIZES: 900 sq. ft. to 9,000 sq. ft. (average size, around 3,000 sq. ft.) OVERSEEN BY: Philadelphias Neighbourhood Park Program USES: Play, sitting (focusing on children and the elderly) FEATURES: Climbing structures, areas for exploration, bright colours, community involvement, basketball courts, flower or vegetable gardens, tot lots, etc. OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE 129051081
CASE STUDY 1a
PHILADELPHIAS POCKET PARKS:
Philadelphia was one of the first cities to begin developing pocket parks within its neighbourhoods. These were constructed on the site of vacant or abandoned lots that had become eyesores and were located in low-income areas that needed local open space in addition to the limited facilities already available. These parks involved the community in their design and construction and had a specific focus on children play areas.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
SMALL SIZE: Pocket parks tend to between 1-3 lots in size, with a tendency to be larger on the west coast than on the east (Marcus, 150) LOCAL COMMUNITY: These parks rely on a local population for their use and often for their upkeep ( to at least make sure they are maintained) USES/FUNCTIONS Small Events, especially neighbourhood events rest, relaxation lunch breaks, Play, both individual and group. OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE 129051081
CASE STUDY 1b
PALEY PARK: A MIDTOWN POCKET PARK
SIZE: 4,200 square feet .1acre LOCATION: Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York DATE CREATED: 1967 DESIGNED BY: Zion and Breene Associates FUNDED BY: William Paley, former Chairman of CBS (the William S. Paley Foundation) USES: Rest & relaxation, lunch area, sightseeing, meeting spot, etc. FEATURES: 17 honey locust trees, 20-foot waterfall on back wall, moveable chairs, concession stand, ivy-covered walls. OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE 129051081
CASE STUDY 2a
PALEY PARK: A MIDTOWN POCKET PARK
PALEY PARK is one of the most widely known and most successful of all pocket parks. It is designed as an oasis away from the bustle of Manhattan while still maintaining clear sight lines and a connection with the street. Unlike some pocket parks, Paley Park does not attempt to be multi-functional. It is primarily a place for sitting and relaxing and, despite catering to a limited user group, is extremely busy and popular because of the high density of workers, shoppers, and tourists in the area. The midtown park is for adults- office workers, shoppers, tourists, and passer-by. Its purpose is for rest- for the office worker who has finished lunch, a place to spend the remainder of the lunch hour; for the shopper, an opportunity to put down parcels, recline in a comfortable chair, and perhaps sip a coffee before continuing; for the tourist or passer-by an opportunity to be refreshed visually by the scale of the place, by the dense green growth and, hopefully, by the quiet of the tiny space. OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE 129051081
CASE STUDY 2b
ENTRANCE INTO ANIMASHAUN ESTATE
POCKET PARK SITE
POCKET PARK SITE.
LOCATION:
Street-end of Adelabu Road in Surulere Local Government, Lagos State. PRESENT USE: The entire site have been developed into a nursery and demarcated by barbed wires. TOPOGRAPHY: The site is relatively flat. ACCESSIBILITY: The site is bounded by two roads. Adelabu Road and Animashaun Road. AREA OF SITE: 164sqm.
EXISTING ROADS SCHOOL BUILDING RESIDENTIAL BUILDING POCKET PARK SITE National Power Training Institute.
ACCESS ROAD INTO POCKET PARK SITE.
OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE
129051081
SITE ANALYSIS
ADELABU ACCESS ROAD INTO PARK.
TREES PLANTED TO BUFFER AGAINST NOISE
PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY ON ADELABU ROAD
ENTRANCE INTO PARK THROUGH ADELABU ROAD.
OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE
129051081
POCKET PARK DESIGN
PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY WITHIN PARK.
TOPIARY
RECYCLING BIN.
ENTRANCE INTO PARK THROUGH ANIMASHAUN ROAD.
TREES PLANTED TO BUFFER AGAINST NOISE
OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE
129051081
POCKET PARK DESIGN
TREES PLANTED TO SERVE AS SHADE.
SITTING MATERIALS
TOPIARY
GATES
TREES PLANTED TO BUFFER AGAINST NOISE
OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE
129051081
POCKET PARK DESIGN
TREES PLANTED TO SERVE AS SHADE. TREES PLANTED TO BUFFER AGAINST NOISE
ADELABU ACCESS ROAD INTO PARK.
ENTRANCE INTO PARK THROUGH ADELABU ROAD.
PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY LEADING FROM THE ADELABU TO ANIMASHAUN.
OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE
129051081
POCKET PARK DESIGN
ANIMASHAUN ACCESS ROAD.
INTERIOR VIEWS WITHIN THE PARK.
RECYCLING BIN.
ADELABU ACCESS ROAD.
OGUNSAJO OLUWOLE OLAWALE
129051081
POCKET PARK DESIGN
