One of the nice things about cities to me is that here and there there are small parks tucked away in little corners of the city. While big parks are meant to serve the whole city, pocket parks are meant to serve just the people of the neighborhood, or even just the people of the street or block. It provides a semi-private atmosphere for local residents.

What are some of your favorite pocket parks in your city? What makes them special to you? Are they meant to be enclaves or are they meant to be the home of a monument or statue?

There are a few here in Minneapolis, (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=park&sll=44.968442,-93.280535&sspn=0.0201,0.038624&gl=us&ie=UTF8&near=minneapolis&split=1&ll=44.942931,-93.276672&spn=0.333406,0.617981&z=11) but I'm out of ideas right now. Why don't you set the pace?

ooh very interesting. I'll try to take some photos around BK.

There are a few here in Minneapolis, (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=park&sll=44.968442,-93.280535&sspn=0.0201,0.038624&gl=us&ie=UTF8&near=minneapolis&split=1&ll=44.942931,-93.276672&spn=0.333406,0.617981&z=11) but I'm out of ideas right now. Why don't you set the pace?

Fair enough.

Here's one of the nicer pocket parks in Wilmington, in my opinion. This is Soldiers & Sailors Monument Park, located at Delaware Avenue, Broom Street, & 14th Street in the Trolley Square neighborhood of Wilmington.

The monument is the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, and is dedicated to Delaware's Civil War dead. The monument was dedicated in 1871, and the column used for the monument belonged to the Pennsylvania Bank Building in Philadelphia until it was demolished in 1868.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5804/dscf3393pp.jpg

Great topic, I love such tiny yet carefully designed parks! Esp. historical one.
They've got a whole lot more atmosphere than those huge ones.

NYC and London got lots of those small ones, Berlin as well.

I'll go through my collections of these cities to find some stuff :)

I don't have any...

I know of a few in various cities.

Here is a nice one I've seen in NY:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/photo/2008/06/29/20080629WATERFALLS/23866519.JPG

Here's a nice one in Seattle:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Seattle_Waterfall_Garden_03.jpg/800px-Seattle_Waterfall_Garden_03.jpg
Charlotte, NC
http://www.jillwlang.com/images/Charlotte/TheGreen/5004FishFountainsOnGreen.jpg

Here's one from my home town Middelburg (50k inhabitants) in the Southwestern Netherlands. It's more of a public garden than a park I think. The photo was taken from the street, you have to go down those steps to enter the park.

Spanjaardstraat
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z156/sandrofantora/Middelburg%20photos/s73f0098.jpg

I really love the photographs that are here. Thank you people. It is a pity that there is not more interest in Landscaping, parks and little green city pockets in the forums here. I usually only visit the Cape Town section, but this thread was a lovely find.

^^ Maybe you like these four as wel...:)



One of the nice things about cities to me is that here and there there are small parks tucked away in little corners of the city. ...
It provides a semi-private atmosphere for local residents.

One side of the Palacegarden in The Hague is fenced, they other sides arre behind rows of buildings. So it is hidden
and (apparently) parents don't feel the need to hold their children's hands, while they're in the middle of a big (480k+) town.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2787214447_2279acf9d9_b_d.jpg
Source: roel1943 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/roel1943/2787214447/)

What makes them special to you? Are they meant to be enclaves or are they meant to be the home of a monument or statue?

They name says it all: it's the garden of Noordeinde Palace. Heads of state used to live there, and it's still the 'office' of our queen.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2749276504_d43906c701_b_d.jpg
Source: Pieter Musterd (http://www.flickr.com/photos/piet_musterd/2749276504/)

Mostly local residents can be found here during sunny days.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/479052551_7b61611580_b_d.jpg
Source: illustir (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alper/479052551/)

Also the Royal stables [^] and the Royal archive [\/] can be seen from this park.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/396217656_9bb01a4bf7_o_d.jpg
Source: Akbar Simonse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/simeon_barkas/396217656/)

Wonderful photos and background stories, everyone! Keep them coming

nice and interesting websites.



swineflu
(http://rajagiriworld.com)

Paley Park

53rd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues
New York, NY

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/2462234109_5827aef6bf.jpg
by doorsixteen (http://www.flickr.com/photos/doorsixteen/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2462234009_b35a0b79b0.jpgby doorsixteen (http://www.flickr.com/photos/doorsixteen/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/9927554_da651d0335.jpg
by randem (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randem/)

A small vest pocket park in midtown Manhattan, the park was developed (and every detail considered) by the person who paid for it, William Paley, former Chairman of CBS. Mr. Paley was involved in all aspects of planning the park from its conception to the selection of just the right hot dog (which is still served at a reasonable price).

It is an extremely successful public space. For one, it is located directly on the street so that people are attracted to look in and enter. It has good, reasonably priced food, as well as moveable chairs and tables that let people be comfortable and have some control over where they sit. A waterfall provides a dramatic focal point and a reason to enter the park; its noise blocks out the sounds of the city and creates a sense of quiet and privacy. There's adequate shade in the summer from the trees, though they allow a beautiful dappled light to pass through their leaves.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/3049231386_07266f4fcf.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2635826659_b55d3b8b92.jpg
by f.trainer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiveoftoast/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/290061086_20cd73d72c.jpg
by mello yello (http://www.flickr.com/photos/taiyo_watanabe/)

Postmans Park - City of London

http://www.victorianweb.org/art/parks/9.jpg


http://photos.igougo.com/images/p213383-London-Postmans_Park.jpg

Tucked away behind the City Square Mile is Postmans park, a lovely quiet pocket park to escape from the City. What makes PP so interesting is the memorial to people who took their own lives to save someone elses, its a beautiful square and well worth a visit.

http://www.urban75.org/london/images/postman03.jpg

http://www.urban75.org/london/images/postman-park-01.jpg

postmans park looks so nice :)

HK has several. Here is one of them

Harcourt Park, Admiralty
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/HK_QWB_Harcourt_Park_HK_Police_HQs.jpg

Some of mine from New York City :

http://www.globalphotos.org/newyork/20060615/IMG_0906.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/newyork/20060615/IMG_0911.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/newyork/20060615/IMG_0912.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/newyork/20060615/IMG_0913.jpg

A few more of the real pocket parks in Hong Kong - the really small ones somehow wedged between small city blocks!

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2009/0822/IMG_1798.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1220/IMG_5774.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1115/IMG_3825.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1115/IMG_3826.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1115/IMG_3835.jpg

Usaquen Foundational Park
Carrera 6 & 7 between 119 & 118 streets, Bogota, Colombia
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2872516037_281605ba4a.jpg

Before the city absorved it, Usaquen was a little town located in the
Bogota´s Savannah and an-hour away from the downton by car;
here's the foundational square where in colonial times there were
street markets and farmers' meetings for country business while the
years passed the park became into a great place to go to walk or dinner
in the restaurants around it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3396722746_dd44fa89be.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/3396689656_65ca7628ca.jpg

The bogotan citizens don't want to lose the old costumes of the region,
so, nowadays street markets are organized in the adyacent corners and
sundays there's 'Mercados de Pulgas' where the people market antiquities
and relics

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3431/3395660071_c826c8cf46.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/3395508565_0a36cf6217.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3395507053_a0756d1e50.jpg

Presidente Prudente - Brazil (200,000 ppl)

I live in a city in countryside São Paulo
The city is the "capital of western São Paulo" and is the biggest city ina region of 1,000,000 inhabitants

I'll show a park near the campus of University of the State of São Paulo

Parque do Povo
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/Urbanoprudente/Presidente%20Prudente/100_7841.jpg

Alexandre de Gusmão Square, located behind Paulista Avenue, São Paulo city.A quite and peaceful square just behind one of the most important and croud avenues of this city.

http://br.olhares.com/praca_alexandre_de_gusmao_foto642254.html

http://br.olhares.com/praca_alexandr...oto642254.html

Now, it's right!

Kleine Zavel/Petit Sablon, 1879, Brussels, Belgium:

http://www.op-reis.com/albums/brussel/fotos/brussel-grotezavel1.jpg

http://www.op-reis.com/albums/brussel/fotos/brussel-grotezavel2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HUjYSMsnxvc/SglAOLkq86I/AAAAAAAACZA/bLP43VjX-Yg/s400/BrusselsPetitSablonBest.jpg

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/03/fc/d3/notre-dame-sablon.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HUjYSMsnxvc/SglBX-hzdmI/AAAAAAAACZQ/ucq4jUl-uF0/s400/BrusselsPetitSablonFountain.jpg

new york city is just....wow, i love their little pocket parks here and there.
i am from melbourne ( obviously ) and i love the big city.....and i feel like my home is in new york city, thats where im supposed to be, thats where my heart is...but of course i will always love melbourne :D

Ganesha Park(Ijzermanpark - 1919)
Bandung,Indonesia

http://blogmoyo.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/resize-of-img_0253.jpg

http://sun1.lib.itb.ac.id/expo/d/42-2/20070821_152222.JPG

http://www.ee.itb.ac.id/~waskita/files/images/web-001-IMG_5077.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1173764.jpg

Source : Google.com

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4449816645_95c36368cf_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4450586820_edf0a87e90_b.jpg

Fantastic examples!

Cihampelas Walk, Bandung, Indonesia

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_BuyHB_UQftY/S1V_I6zzNnI/AAAAAAAAAUc/n3YlkZ9BvEE/s1024/1912010stitch.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_BuyHB_UQftY/S1V97DzQJ1I/AAAAAAAAATs/L4PG20F5OFc/s640/IMG_0637.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_BuyHB_UQftY/S1V-PYENBiI/AAAAAAAAAT4/pUvCrkPouqU/s640/IMG_0640.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_BuyHB_UQftY/S1Z-gT76nhI/AAAAAAAAAVo/GzW8QHso9dY/IMG_0634.JPG

Source : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=895632&page=14
Visit Bandung :)

a cute thread!

thats one of my personal favorites...

Dubnow Park, located just off Rabin Square in the city centre, right at the back of the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Centre

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3287/dubnov.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/dubnov.jpg/)
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3104/dubnov2.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/i/dubnov2.jpg/)
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3161/dubnov3.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/dubnov3.jpg/)

It is great in summer, impossibly green in winter, and beautiful in spring and autumn...

This one is under construction in Rotterdam. The subway line comes above ground level here. The surrounding buildings contain offices, schools and apartments and the buildings are between 30 and 90 m tall. :)

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8013/ichtushof12.jpg

status last week, gives an impression about the surroundings:
http://i31.tinypic.com/wtarg5.jpg

Jardins Suspensos, Nations Park - Lisbon, Portugal

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000632.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000644.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000637.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000639.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000648.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000642.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000649.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000633.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000646.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000634.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000640.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000638.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000635.jpg

http://www.portaldasnacoes.pt/images/stories/galeriadefotos/jardins_no_parque/Jardins_Suspensos/pdn-000631.jpg

São Pedro de Alcântara garden - Lisbon, Portugal

http://i.pbase.com/g1/21/4921/2/100617501.bv8aQZjT.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj67/bluesence/0808007.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj67/bluesence/0808009.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj67/bluesence/0808010.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj67/bluesence/0808012.jpg

photos: Blusense

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j190/Marcosou/DSC02592.jpg

Columbus has alot of cute pocket parks in Downtown, The Short North and one in German Village.

Uf!, Guadalajara City's got plenty of these so called "pocket parks". I'll try to go and take some pictures of these and share them with you guys. There're some not-well-cared parks here, but there many beautiful ones, which I enjoy pretty much and like visiting them often.

Villa Pacini, Catania.

An old one.

http://www.arrakeen.ch/sicmal/008%20%20Catania.jpg

http://web.tiscali.it/andreacatania/catania/gallery/CT12.jpg

http://web.tiscali.it/andreacatania/catania/gallery/CT13.jpg

Greenbelt Park
Makati, Metro Manila

http://personalwebreviews.ca/blog/wp-content/main/2010_09/P4070086.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0310a.jpg?t=1256032149

http://www.23hq.com/6355833/6519078_530fd15a524813c58a65265e39202853_large.jpg

http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/63471/makati2.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/51380817.jpg

http://home.planet.nl/~geer2169/philipijnen/images/60.%20IMGP5756%20Greenbelt%20park.jpg

Eastwood Park
Quezon City, Metro Manila

http://images04.olx.com.ph/ui/11/19/00/1306512815_209711900_3-Eastwood-City-Condominiums-for-Sale-Preselling-and-Ready-for-Occupancy-Quezon-City.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt270/ace_ortiz/EastwoodCityCitywalk1.jpg

http://dressdishdestination.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/img_7971.jpg?w=448&h=336

Bonifacio High Street
Taguig, Metro Manila

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2064179232_9448c76eb6.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/462666357_e91f6301f0_o.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/g6/83/428583/2/78038059.Sc38zCQA.jpg

http://guidepal.com/resources/article.mainimages/aphoto10087.jpg.main600.jpg

it's connected to another pocket park across the street
Serendra
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2309957220_08b6410f30.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2309957218_4c45d56ca8.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3549619153_5b2c830649.jpg

The Terraces
Ayala Center, Cebu
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s302/trisha_0258/IMG_2220.jpg?t=1244020520

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/7d/09/21/ayala-center-cebu.jpg

http://cebuonlinetv.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Ayala_Center_Cebu_3.jpg

this isn't much of a park, just a triangular patch of grass bounded by alleyways in a residential area in vancouver. i lived near by for the longest time but was unaware of its existence because it's tucked away. it's an awkward location, but the views are nice.

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l565/spitandsnot/Picture3.png
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l565/spitandsnot/Picture1.png

new pocket park under construction in Fort Bonifacio, Manila


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff18/ericolivarez/BGC%20BHS%20Central%20111011/380545_10150387451489820_579884819_8126688_160533896_n.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff18/ericolivarez/BGC%20BHS%20Central%20111011/380545_10150387451489820_579884819_8126688_160533896_n.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4862176860_2a57233c6d_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4862176860_2a57233c6d_b.jpg

I know of a few in various cities.

Here is a nice one I've seen in NY:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/photo/2008/06/29/20080629WATERFALLS/23866519.JPG

Here's a nice one in Seattle:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Seattle_Waterfall_Garden_03.jpg/800px-Seattle_Waterfall_Garden_03.jpg
Charlotte, NC
http://www.jillwlang.com/images/Charlotte/TheGreen/5004FishFountainsOnGreen.jpg

it really looks nice indeed..its so relaxing.

wow i never knew Manila is such a beautiful city!

^^Thanks. Another park in (Metro) Manila:

Ayala Triangle Park
Credit goes to those who took these shots (originally posted some time ago)! :)

http://a.imageshack.us/img534/4616/41525710315a133132fdb.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img27/6159/4223531071bb0b1a8634o.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img20/8194/4221500647953e068ae6b.jpg