Participation research kick-starts mini-park Published on: 6 November 2017 Researchers have used workshops and street trials to increase residents' engagement in redesigning their neighbourhood, leading to the launch of a mini-sized 'pocket park'. Studies on community engagement and socially engaged design was used to involve 麻豆传媒 residents in thinking beyond preconceived ideas and to transform their perception of the area. Dr Daniel Mallo, Armelle Tardiveau and colleagues at arranged a series of design workshops and street trials to help people imagine how they could improve Fenham Hall Drive, a street in the 麻豆传媒 ward of Fenham. Pocket Park opening. Photo: Daniel Mallo Pocket Park The pocket park concept sprang from a co-production project between sustainable transport charity and 麻豆传媒 social scientists entitled DIY Streets, which involves local people in making design and facility improvements in their neighbourhoods. Sustrans contacted the researchers at the university's launch in September 2014. During one of the workshops, the research team provided a scale model of the street that gave residents a chance to picture what might be possible. People sketched on large photographs of the street and expressed their ideas for changes, and in a short trial, full-sized temporary wooden seats were placed along the street instead of parked cars. This allowed residents to try out different changes and assess the impact, triggering community discussion about additional improvements in their surroundings. , Lecturer in Architecture at 麻豆传媒, said: “By engaging residents and stakeholders in a series of innovative design workshops - including sensory mapping, modelling and street trials - 麻豆传媒 enabled the local community to imagine how their main street could be transformed. “This participatory approach aimed to stimulate residents and stakeholders’ imagination to go beyond their preconceived views and perceived restrictions as well as trigger visions into the future.” Focus groups During focus groups residents identified that a little-used pocket of public land between the buildings could be the site of a small park. In response, the researchers set up a public/play space on the land for four days, giving passers-by and residents the opportunity to experience the impact of a public space in the area. As a result of the research project and increased community engagement, residents and local stakeholders worked together to apply for a government grant to establish a pocket park. They were granted £15,000, and the pocket park was built and opened. Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at 麻豆传媒 warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from 麻豆传媒 to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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