Stephanie Pankiewicz

WASHINGTON, DC—Pop-up parks are instant open areas ready for public use and programming. They are under-utilized space, or space originally purposed for another use, such as a parking space/parking lot.

“Pop-up parks can accelerate real estate development, activate emerging neighborhoods, and support businesses and safe pedestrian zones,” says Stephanie Pankiewicz, a partner at LandDesign. “While the term is used in some circles to describe car-designated zones reclaimed for pedestrian use, today’s pop-up parks are diverse, creative and often a key to validating both the need for more urban open space and concept designs that test new ideas in public realm design.”

They also are impactful. Pankiewicz points to a recent 10,000 square foot pop-up park, Greensboro Green, created in The Boro in Tysons, Va. It ended up being a usable and magnetic zone during construction, attracting neighbors to learn more about The Boro and Tyson’s rapid growth.