# Pop-Up Urban Parks The Softwalks Project Turns Construction Sites into Parks By Gil Cohen | Published 2012-12-24 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/softwalks-project References: [kickstarter](http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335098906/softwalks-the-pilot-project?ref=recommended) & [citysoftwalks](http://citysoftwalks.com/) Walking around city streets can be overwhelming when you are surrounded by traffic, construction and not a tree in sight, which is where the Softwalks project comes in. Designed specifically to make [public space in cities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/greenpublic) a more comfortable and more enjoyable setting to be in, this project consists of a kit that allows people to make use out of their surroundings. Take the scaffolding that looms over sidewalks at construction sites for example; you can attach the [portable chair](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chapters-furniture) to one of the metal posts, add a few of the [planters around you](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/planter-300) and maybe a light reflector if it's dark and you have a park-like environment to relax in. The Softwalks project makes outdoor city spaces more pleasant. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 61% | Activity: 15% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/furniture) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Pop-up Parks:** The Softwalks Project creates portable parks out of urban construction sites, paving way for the concept Pop-Up Parks. - **Kit-based Public Space Design:** The Softwalks Project's kit-based approach to transform mundane public spaces into interactive and functional areas sets a trend for Kit-Based Public Space Design. - **Portable Urban Greenery:** Softwalks' kit includes planters to add portable greenery to a construction site, which could pave way for Portable Urban Greenery trend. ### Who This Affects Most - **Construction:** The Softwalks Project provides construction companies an opportunity to transform their construction site into a public park to increase engagement with the community and positive feedback from the citizens. - **Urban Planning:** Urban planners can adopt kit-based public space redesign tools such as Softwalks Project to gain flexibility and strive for creative and interactive public spaces. - **Outdoor Furniture:** Outdoor furniture companies can create kit-based portable furniture that can be used to transform public spaces and cater to emerging trends like Portable Urban Greenery and Pop-Up Parks. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [City-Honoring Furniture Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/symbiotic-urban-furniture-project.md) - [Urban Roofscape Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/central-yards.md) - [Sculptural Public Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptural-public-seating.md) - [Renewed Urban Rooftops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heineken-seoul-rooftops.md) - [Waste Tarp-Made Public Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/membran-collective.md) - [Redesigning Restful Moments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anew-project.md) - [Happiness-Increasing Urban Space Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-space-concept.md) - [Summer Patio Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sol-patio.md) - [Urban Structural Street Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/symbiotic-urban-furniture.md)