Streetery and Parklet – Jersey City, New Jersey

Isaac Kremer/ September 17, 2020/ Field Notes, Physical, placemaking/ 0 comments

This localized streetscape is where a childcare group is walking past an outdoor parklet setup.

This close-up shot shows an individual sweeping the green turf flooring, demonstrating the daily maintenance required for these repurposed, street-level public seating installations. This is a more intensive design with roof overhead, framing, and trellis barrier between posts to give some privacy for people sitting in the space. As an outdoor dining amenity the utility of the space is fairly limited with a simple bench running the length of the parklet.

This example is more streetery than it is parklet. The reason why is there is no platform level with the sidewalk, so users have to take a physical step down from the curb. The partition divider and large movable concrete barriers give a sense of enclosure. Other than plants along the street and traffic facing side, no furniture is visible yet within this enclosure.

Slatwall dividers with planters on the inside and concrete barriers on outside to harden edge.
Another streetery here is protected from the traffic by a simple chain suspended from posts. Planters and temporary pop-up tents have been placed streetery. Some lighting has been included as well to increase the usefulness after hours.
Planters defining the edge of streetery. This comparison of before images from Google Maps and the current condition when we visited show what a bold reimagining this is of this street and neighboring buildings.

Montgomery Street toward the historic, white marble Jersey City City Hall building visible in the upper-left background. The blue-painted roadway creates a dedicated safety buffer zone for pedestrian traffic and local outdoor dining setups. Where there is no streetery beyond the partition, cars fill in the spaces with parking. This creates a vehicle barrier protecting the streetery from a head-on strike.

Grove Street and Columbus Drive in Downtown Jersey City near the Grove Smoke Shop located at 305 Grove St. Another outdoor pedestrian streetery is seating decorated with red umbrellas and planters. There is even enough space for a delivery truck. This also serves to harden the streetery from a head-on truck, at least as long as the truck or some other vehicle is sitting there.
Plaza at Grove St and Newark Ave with effective use of public art on blank wall in the distance.
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About Isaac Kremer

IsaacKremer.com is the personal website of Isaac Kremer, MSARP, a nationally recognized leader in the Main Street Approach to commercial district revitalization with over 25 years of experience. Kremer, New Jersey's first certified Main Street America Revitalization Professional (MSARP), has served as founding executive director for organizations like Experience Princeton and the Metuchen Downtown Alliance, which won a Great American Main Street Award under his leadership. He recently became director of the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority in Michigan.

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