Qingzhen's pocket parks refresh urban micro spaces

A pocket park at the First People's Hospital in Qingzhen has opened to the public, marking the 18th in the city. These scattered "mini oases", nestled in urban streets and alleys, are enhancing citizens' quality of life.

The pocket park at the First People's Hospital. [Photo/WeChat account of Shuangshuang Guiyang, Hucheng Qingzhen]

Differing from traditional parks, these pocket parks range from as small as 400 square meters to as large as 10,000 sq m and squeeze greenery into every available space, making creative use of urban leftover spaces like demolished sites and building gaps and providing accessible green areas for residents.

In response to increasingly scarce land resources, Qingzhen innovatively integrates multiple functions into these pocket parks. For instance, the city's transportation-themed pocket park creates an urban landscape that combines leisure, sports, and traffic education.

The transportation-themed pocket park. [Photo/WeChat account of Shuangshuang Guiyang, Hucheng Qingzhen]

Qingzhen's 18 pocket parks collectively serve over 10,000 visitors daily. An urban planning expert noted, "These mini oases scattered in the concrete jungle are reconstructing connections between people and the city."

Transitioning from mere greening to multifunctionality, the evolution of pocket parks exemplifies Qingzhen's efforts to create "15-minute livable living circles" for citizens.