Mobile Parklet

A parklet is a pavement extension that provides more space and amenities for people using the street. Usually parklets are installed in parking spaces. Parklets are intended for people and offer a place to stop, to sit, and to rest while taking in the activities of the street.

The Royal Borough of Kingston’s original mini-Holland (Go Cycle) bid included ambitions not only to increase levels of cycling, but also improve the public realm and provide facilities for pedestrians. Parklets fall under objectives 9 and 10 of the Kingston mini-Holland programme, “Improve the quality of the public realm” and “support the vitality and viability of our town, district and local centres“. Parklets are also consistent with TfL’s Healthy Streets agenda. The borough should be looking to implement parklets to make better use of our street space and improve the urban realm. Such parklets should include facilities for both pedestrians and cyclists.

For example, the parklets could include seating, cycle parking, greenery, electric charging points and so on. By creating these small public parks from underutilised street space the borough will encourage more people to visit the area by bike and on foot. They will encourage modal shift and increase active travel and exercise amongst those who currently do not regularly use sustainable transport.

Parklets should be seen as part of a staged approach to making more permanent changes to our streets. It is proposed that RBK procure ‘mobile’ parklets (in place for less than 1 week) and ‘temporary’ parklets (in place for up to six months) that can be used separately or in tandem to trial and demonstrate how street space can be improved for people. Following these trials more permanent urban realm improvements can be explored (in conjunction with the urban design and highways teams.

Our Requirements
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (RBK) are inviting organisations to quote for the following:
? Design and construction of 1 mobile parklet in accordance with the Council’s design specifications. However, the Council may consider expanding the scheme should it prove successful..
? Ongoing maintenance of the mobile parklet for the duration of 3 years from purchasing.
? The details outlined in the submitted bids will be considered on a like-for-like basis by RBK. The contractor is therefore requested to provide total costs for the project as well as a breakdown of the costs outlined below. Please quote for the following costs:
? Total design
? Construction of the mobile parklet
? Maintenance