Made popular in San Francisco, parklets are designed as a public place for passersby to relax and enjoy the atmosphere and amenities at hand. Following on the success of its first parklet event held late last year, Stockland Townville will be hosting another two activations set to run over the next two weeks on Thursday 16 January and Thursday 23 January.
Stockland, with support from co-owners the AMP Capital Shopping Centre Fund and key local organisations and departments including Queensland Police Service, will host the parklet which will encourage urban renewal and activate a vacant space in Aitkenvale.
From 5pm to 9pm at the former Westpac Building on Elizabeth Street, the pop-up parklet will come alive with free fun and entertainment for all ages, including basketball competitions and outdoor games, participative community aerosol mural art wall, complimentary frozen yoghurt, slushies and popcorn, didgeridoo performance and workshops, information stalls and more.
Urban Fun Object will also be at the parklet to provide locals with a relaxing gaming area in addition to a live DJ who will be taking song requests and offer some karaoke sessions. Headspace will keep the fun rolling with activities such as yard games and a laid back bean bag lounge.
Made popular in San Francisco, parklets are designed as a public place for passersby to relax and enjoy the atmosphere and amenities at hand.
Retail Asset Manager Craig Piper said that Stockland has been working with several local organisations since early June and is looking forward to piloting the parklet this week and hearing what the community thinks about the idea.
“The working group came up with the idea of a ‘parklet’ as a potential ongoing use of some of the vacant space in the centre’s precinct, and thought this trial would be a great way to test the concept with the community and potentially implement it over a longer period of time. We want to make sure Stockland Townsville is a place that everyone can go to socialise, connect and feel like they belong, and this is just one of the many ways we’re facilitating experiences for our customers”, Piper said.
“We look forward to hearing from the residents of Aitkenvale their thoughts on the parklet and what else they would like to see in the community going forward”, he said.
Sergeant Jason Hancock of Queensland Police Service said: “QPS actively liaised with community stakeholders and external agencies in the planning of this community engagement event. QPS participation is vital to determining possible solutions to youth crime in the Aitkenvale precinct and to make our community a safer and more enjoyable place to be.”
With support from Townsville Stronger Communities Action Group and Queensland Police Service – and in consultation with community groups – the trial parklet is just one of the ways that Stockland is breathing new life into the centre precinct at Aitkenvale.
Piper added, “We’re also giving locals creative license to revamp the former Westpac Building by contributing to a community blackboard and aerosol street art during the event, with a local professional street artist Shane Keen guiding the art installation on Thursday.”
Taking into account community feedback on the trial Thursday, Stockland and AMP Capital may pilot the parklet longer term with a set program of events which could include night markets, open mic nights, live music and more.
“We are the leading retail town centre in the city. This is a place where people of all kinds come to shop and socialise. We want to offer even more spaces to spend time with friends and family in a fun and relaxing environment” Piper continued.
