Pop-up Parklet Part of Haddonfield's Earth Day Plans

In an effort to do something new and unusual on their main street for Earth Day, Haddonfield officials plan to include Pop-up Parklet on Kings Highway during their April 25 celebration.

A “Parklet” is a mini-park created within the street environs or parking zone where it becomes an extension of the sidewalk.

Parklets are popping up in many cities and towns to create small green spaces on busy streets for pedestrians to gather, socialize, enjoy a meal or just sit and relax, officials said.

Some parklets are semi- permanent designs with fixed walls, seats and planters while others are intended for special events in the town, like festivals and celebrations.

Haddonfield’s parklet will be created near Kings Court and the pedestrian crossing. In this way, it will be close to Earth Day exhibits and activities in Kings Court.

Although International Earth Day is officially observed on April 22, Haddonfield will celebrate their event on Saturday, April 25.

The parklet will be constructed with volunteer labor and materials donated by Knolltop Nursery. Officials invite members of Sustainable Haddonfield, the Environmental Commission and the local school students help set everything up the day before.

Knolltop’s design calls for use of recycled shipping pallets to create a green boundary between traffic and the parklet. Benches, planters, mulch and sod will be arranged in the space to create this temporary green haven on the busy street.

While officials understand that parking is vital to downtown businesses, they say a new balance can be found to create new civic and green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

This temporary parklet will test public opinions about how to best balance the changing needs of people while reducing public space dedicated to automobiles, officials said.

This pop-up experiment fits very nicely with the Green Building and Sustainability element being developed for the Borough’s Master Plan.

More information can be found on the Borough’s website as well as at sustainablehaddonfield.com.