‘Parklets’ coming to Capitol Avenue this week

LANSING -- Starting this afternoon, the west lane along Capitol Avenue in front of the state Capitol will be closed to vehicles, as the adjacent parking spaces are transformed into “mini-parks” for the public to enjoy.

Throughout the week, local businesses and organizations will host “parklets,” where passersby will be invited to play games, read books, sit down to eat lunch, hold a business meeting or even play in a sandbox set up for the occasion.

“Streets tend to be the most prominent public space that cities have, and so (we) want to start thinking about them being more people-focused, and not just car-focused,” said Derek Tisler, who is coordinating the project as part of the Michigan Municipal League. “We feel that the street could have more potential.”

The concept originated in San Francisco in 2005, when a local art and design studio transformed a single metered parking space into a “mini-park” complete with a bench, grass and potted tree. After the two-hour parking limit was reached, the sod was rolled up, the street was swept clean and it became a parking space again.

The concept caught on across the country as a way for people and organizations to re-imagine public spaces, and it inspired Tisler’s team to bring something similar to Lansing, he said.

The project is part of the Michigan Municipal League’s placemaking efforts for Lansing, Tisler said. The idea is to encourage people to spend time in and around Capitol Avenue for the sake of being there, and not just for work or legislative business.

“We believe people want to live in areas they enjoy,” Tisler said. “The Capitol lawn is a beautiful space in front of a beautiful building — we feel it’s underutilized.”

Participating organizations will set up their “parklets” this afternoon and Tuesday morning, and the spaces will be open for the public to enjoy Tuesday and Wednesday, Tisler said.

The project was planned to coincide with the 10th annual farmer’s market on the Capitol lawn scheduled for Thursday, Tisler said. On Friday, the YMCA will offer free fitness classes on the Capitol lawn from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tisler said he hopes the “parklets” will spark conversations about how Capitol Avenue can be improved as a “gateway to Lansing,” because he said the corridor forms the perception of Lansing for many people who travel to the city to visit the Capitol.

“We feel that putting a little park on the side of the road will grab people’s attention and get them thinking about way to use those public spaces,” Tisler said. “We’re hoping for a conversation starter that will get people thinking about the long-term potential of the corridor.”

Contact Kate DuHadway at (517) 377-1065 or kduhadway@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @k8rouse or on Instagram @movelansing.