The community is getting behind Wellington City Council’s Innovating Streets project that aims to create lively, safe, people-friendly spaces in the capital’s central city and suburbs.
The nationwide initiative is being led by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, which is funding 90 percent of the project, with a total of 70 creative ‘pop-ups’ throughout the country.
They have been designed through collaboration with Iwi, residents, schools, businesses, and others who use the spaces on their streets.
In Wellington, there are three parklet pop-ups – currently located outside Bicycle Junction on Marion Street, Black Coffee on Newtown’s Riddiford Street, and on Allen Street in Te Aro as the Fringe Festival’s HQ.
The movable pop-ups will be relocated to other areas in the coming weeks for different communities to enjoy, with the potential of becoming permanent fixtures based on public feedback.
Bicycle Junction owner Dan Mikkelsen says the response has been positive, with many local residents and community groups frequenting the space and making it their own.
“While it’s outside our shop, we’ve been trying to encourage others to use it – it’s a place where anyone is welcome to hang out, and people haven’t been afraid to use it."
In the parklet, Dan has put the cafe’s largest picnic table, which stays out after business hours, and a piano among other things.