In a 264-square foot space once occupied by two parked cars, now rest six parked bikes, three tables, 10 chairs, two people reading, four people chatting — and everyone is smiling. Welcome to the new parklet in front of Mojo Bicycle Café on Divisadero Street in San Francisco, courtesy of the City’s Pavement to Parks initiative. It is the first in what will be a trial series of small parks built in parking spaces throughout the city. It is not the first time architect and principal of RG Architecture Riyad Ghannam has donated his time and talent, pro bono, to make street-space to community-space design a successful reality.

Last September, Ghannam unveiled a temporary sidewalk extension design during PARK(ing) Day. These simple structures became instant public space and were wildly popular in all three of the PARK(ing) Day locations that hosted them. It was the perfect day for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s Great Streets Project to showcase how parking spaces could be permanently transformed into public spaces and benefit businesses and the whole community.

“I think this different use of public space is a case of ‘build it and they will come,’” said Ghannam. “We are tapping into something the community likes and values but has never had an example to point to and say, ‘Yeah, we want one of those’.”

When the San Francisco Planning Department invited Ghannam to design a more permanent version of his PARK(ing) Day installation for the City’s Pavement to Parks program, he was given a new set of

guidelines to work with. Ghannam drew inspiration for his design from his ideal space to eat lunch or hang out with his friends, while at the same time meeting city requirements; but, he emphasizes that teamwork finalized the design. “It adapted until the last screw was driven in place,” he said. “Lots of inspiration came during construction when each of the amazing volunteers offered ideas of how to make things better.”

Never was the definition of community space more clear than in the five days it took Ghannam and volunteers to build the parklet. Aside from the physical park, everyone was building relationships

with one another. Neighbors emerged, enthusiastically offering their helping hands to build a place they knew they would be able to enjoy. “Talk about building community,” said Ghannam, “While we were building something physical for the community, we were also building community spirit.”

Ghannam is happy to report the parklet is creating some buzz in the design community. A friend and former co-worker heard about the parklet while studying in Spain and is already working with city officials on implementing a similar project on the streets of Barcelona. “You can never underestimate what even a small gathering place can do for a neighborhood,” Ghannam said. Or the world for that matter!

“People are social creatures,” said Ghannam, “It’s part of our nature to interact and collaborate and share company. Community space gives us a forum for that.”