Context

British Recycled Plastic manufactured and supplied modular recycled plastic parklets, consisting of planters and seating, to help revitalise Bristol High Street as part of the City Centre and High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme.

Project aims

Through the programme, Bristol City Council appointed Public Art Producers, Paul Channing and Diana Hatton, to oversee the creation of public artwork across five high streets in Bristol, with a further four streets organising their own projects.

Their approach has been focused on collaborating with artists to infuse new life into urban spaces. Bristol is renowned for its street art, with local artists adorning walls with vivid murals.

At the heart of the Bristol Pocket Park project lies an innovative approach to an often-overlooked space in Stockwood. The project, aptly named Stockwood Pocket Park, aims to transform this neglected area into a vibrant showcase for the future of public spaces and rejuvenate the use of the local library as a community hub.

The desire for more green spaces was a recurring theme in previous public consultations. During initial community outreach efforts, several groups with interests in gardening, green spaces and well-being emerged. The idea took shape to create a space adorned with planters and seating. The project also aims to integrate artist-designed decorations into the space, fostering a unique and meaningful connection between the community, the library, Stockwood Open Space, and the high street. Paul Channing has played a pivotal role in designing the space and was responsible for selecting suitable furniture, organising the creation of text panels, and coordinating the planting and installation.

Solution

A modular system of recycled plastic planters and seating from British Recycled Plastic was chosen to facilitate collaborative design discussions with community groups. A workshop held on-site, complete with a model, allowed for an in-depth exploration of the placement of planters and seating, ensuring that the space would be both functional, accessible and aesthetically appealing.

Additionally, art panels featuring quotes from Brave Bold Drama's community sound walk project, have been attached to the planters, not only enhancing the visual appeal of the space but also strengthening the bond between the community and its surroundings.

This project is a vital part of the Council Love our High Streets; initiative, further illustrating the project focus on community engagement.

Comments

"Inspired by the local people and community groups that I met. I talked to several groups interested in gardening, green spaces, and well-being. The idea was formed to create a space from planters and seats, where people could enjoy a book from the library or a coffee from the Bristol high street. We were then able to collaborate with Bold Brave Dramas audio tour, which they had been making with the community, as an extra layer to help celebrate and explore the community relationship with the library, with Stockwood Open Space, and with the High Street.
– Paul Channing