Greener and Safer Streets: London's First School Parklet
Client
Westminster City Council
Location
Sectors
Products & Services
Project overview
Meristem Design was proud to contribute to the creation of London’s first school parklet at St Clement Danes Church of England Primary School on Drury Lane. Unveiled in February 2022, this pioneering project was a collaboration between Westminster City Council, Northbank BID, Cross River Partnership, and the school community. Located just minutes from Covent Garden, the parklet transforms former parking spaces into a vibrant, green oasis, enhancing air quality and providing a welcoming space for children and parents.
Goal
To create a safer, greener, and more engaging school environment by repurposing roadside space for nature, seating, and education, improving air quality and reclaiming the street for the community.
Scope
The project included the installation of a parklet with seating and greenery outside St Clement Danes Primary School.
Challenges
Across London and the UK schools many suffer from several issues, notably poor air quality because of idling cars, illegally parked cars, noise pollution levels and safety issues when parents pick up children at the end of the day. All these problems/issues particularly affect school children’s health.
Traffic and Pollution
The area suffered from high vehicle emissions and illegal parking outside the school.
Space Reallocation
Repurposing parking bays required community buy-in and regulatory support.
Solutions
The Parklet provides much-needed greenery to the street, seating for school children and parents as well as helping connect the school children to nature and nature education.
Reclaimed Urban Space
Transformed a parking bay into a vibrant community asset.
Enhanced Air Quality
Introduced greenery to absorb pollutants and improve the environment.
Encouraged Learning
Created an outdoor space that fosters environmental awareness for students.
Built a Community Hub
Provided a space for parents and children to gather in a safer, more pleasant setting.
Impact
The vibrant green school Parklet is a way to take back space from cars, improve air quality, educate children, provide seating amongst nature, and improve the overall street for people. This innovative project highlights the power of urban greening in transforming streetscapes for the benefit of communities, and we look forward to seeing more schools embrace the parklet movement.
Reducing Pollution
The presence of greenery helps absorb carbon dioxide and filter airborne pollutants.
Improving Safety
The parklet discourages illegal parking and idling outside the school.
Fostering Wellbeing
Children and parents now have a tranquil, green space for rest and interaction.
Inspiring Change
As the first of its kind, this project sets a precedent for future school-focused urban greening initiatives.
Before
After
Testimonials
I’m so pleased to launch this amazing new Parklet outside St Clement Danes school, here in the heart of the West End.
This is all part of Westminster City Council’s plan to create greener and safer environments around our schools for the benefit of children and parents.
Cllr Mark Shearer
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Featured products & services
Maintenance
We offer a full range of maintenance services to keep your green space looking healthy and vibrant. Tailored to the unique needs of your project, our horticultural team will provide specialised plant care and maintenance from a one-off basis to a customised schedule.
Design
We specialise in designing beautiful, sustainable urban greening solutions and products that bring nature into public, commercial and residential spaces. From concept to final design, we work closely with clients to ensure that every element is crafted to meet their unique needs, aesthetic preferences, and sustainability goals.
Fabrication
We provide high-quality, in-house fabrication services tailored to the needs of urban greening projects. Composed of skilled welders and carpenters, our fabrication team brings each project from concept to completion using precision and exceptional craftsmanship.
Get in touch
If you like what you've seen in our case study and want to learn more about how this could work in your setting, please get in touch.
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