Bayswater: Community group Baysie Rollers unveil first parklet in the City of Bayswater

THE Bayswater town centre has gained its first mobile parklet for residents to converse in a bid to inspire more place activation in the area.

Community group Baysie Rollers secured a $5000 grant from the City of Bayswater’s Seed Placemaking Funding program to fund a moveable wooden structure with seating and planter boxes.

Bayswater Community Men’s Shed finished building the parklet outside the Australia Post Office before the Rollers added greenery in the boxes last week.

Rollers chair David Lee said this marked the start of a place activation project, where there would be a green wall being formed at the corner of Whatley Crescent and King William Street in the coming months.

“The plan is to move it to different locations in the town centre,” he said.

“What we are hoping is other residents and businesses, particularly retailers can pick up the idea and do something similar.”

Vice-chair Lynn Deering, who led the project, said parklets increased foot traffic and in some cases, generate revenue for businesses.

“Requests for seating in this part of the town have long been made by residents and so in the short term the parklet fills a gap,” she said.

“Over the project, it became clear parking is at a premium in the township, along with the proposed developments and speed limits had reduced potential sites.”

Men’s shed committee member Jim Chantry said it was the first time the men’s shed had built a parklet.

Mayor Dan Bull said the council adopted a set of guidelines to help businesses and residents transform carparks and verges into attractive public spaces.