Over the past ten years cities have created new tools to help communities transform their streets and commercial corridors. These tools are faster and cheaper than traditional streetscape projects. They enable cities to give concrete back to communities. Utilizing plastic bollards, chairs, planters, and wooden platforms, neighborhoods from Philadelphia to Portland have turned parking spaces into parklets, created pedestrian plazas in the middle of extra wide streets, and built bike corrals in the parking lane.

Parklets: Small platforms in the parking lane, these small parks allow people to eat and socialize where once they could only park.

Pedestrian Plazas: Turning under-used parts of the road into pedestrian plazas can simplify complicated intersections, increase safety, and create new community hubs.

Bike Corrals: Sort of like garages for bicyclists, Bike Corrals (in the street or on the sidewalk), provides businesses an easy way to make it easier for more people to visit their shops, and communities a way to promote family friendly travel.

In Philadelphia these parklets, plazas, and bike corrals can be found in Chinatown, Spruce Hill, Manayunk, North Philly and other neighborhoods across the city. Communities have used them to enliven streets, calm traffic, and promote local events. They are usually owned and operated by local neighborhood organizations or area businesses and are an effective way to invest in community revitalization and beautification efforts.