Meet your first parklet

It’s in the Heights, because of course it is.

A parking space converted into Houston’s first parklet brought a mini-media frenzy — and fun street party — to 19th Street in the Heights, where New Living artisans, city officials and community supporters gathered to officially dedicate the green space outside New Living Bedroom Thursday morning.

“This is a way to connect people — to the streets, to the sidewalk, to the shops,” Mayor Annise Parker told the crowd. “The parklet provides a little respite in our busy, bustling city.

“I’m amazed to see so many media here for what once was a parking space,” she added with a laugh.

The 125-square-foot parklet, a raised platform with benches and shade canopy surrounded by planter beds filled with drought-resistant yuccas, was built by Made at New Living artisans led by industrial manager Jose Martinez using reclaimed materials from right here in the city — including 300-year-old wood salvaged from the old Mercantile building. Artisan Heath Brodie constructed the benches, while Jenny Janis handled the landscape design. The Ground Up provided the soil for the bed. More sponsors and partners include Sherwood Design Engineers and Bobby Goldsmith.

“It’s one single parking space that I was happy to give up,” Jeff Kaplan, founder of New Living, said. “I believe 19th Street is to become a major urban street in the city, and the parklet will provide a common space to gather, to rest, even a place where musicians can perform.”

See here for the background. I still don’t know what to make of these things, but next time I’m on 19th Street I’ll check it out. Swamplot and Prime Property have more.

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