Pop-Up Park
Many urban environments lack safe spaces where kids can play and people can relax but have plenty of open areas that are underused or even abandoned. Identify an area in your community that can be converted into temporary park space, whether for adults or kids. Rally your community to clean up the designated area, ensure that there are no obvious hazards and then convert the space into a pop-up park. You may just need some heavy duty brooms, a layer of mulch to create an area where people can gather. Create a sandbox, draw lines for a basketball court or soccer field. Set up benches, lay fake turf. Ask for donations - you’ll be surprised by what turns up!
How do I get started? First, download Stand Out From the Pack - Done in a Day for some high level advice on where to begin. Scope out your neighborhood, and engage friends, neighbors and community leaders in a conversation about converting a neglected or under-utilized space into a temporary park.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If community engagement and beautification are in your narrative arc, also think about pursuing one of these projects:
Decorate a local basketball court with Project Backboard
Enhance your community’s beauty with Guerrilla Gardening
Reduce the pollutants in your soil by planting a community Sunflower Garden
Raise awareness of runoff pollution AND beautiful your community with Storm Drain Art
HOT TIP: You’ll get more impact from this project if it links into your narrative arc. Even better, capitalize on the success of your pop-up park and engage the same helpful community members and leaders to pursue another one of the opportunities listed above.