From Spontaneous to Strategic: Integrating Street Experiments into Urban Planning Practices

In the pursuit of urban planning goals aimed at creating more liveable cities with enhanced public spaces, a crucial aspect to consider is the attention to vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) and their mobility and interaction within street space. This is also aligned with the principles of urban sustainability and inclusivity (Sustainable Development Goal n. 11). Extensive scientific literature supports the multifaceted benefits of this approach, encompassing not only environmental sustainability but also the enhancement of individuals’ physical and mental well-being. These principles and models foster a communal approach to public space, thereby enhancing overall societal well-being and promoting sociability. A notable strategy to promote sociability is the adoption of experimental and temporary transformations of public spaces, such as tactical urbanism’s street experiments. These initiatives often arise from community input rather than comprehensive urban planning analysis. Nevertheless, the literature illustrates how such interventions significantly contribute to increased social interaction, walkability, and ultimately the enhancement of quality of life within neighbourhoods where they are implemented. While many of these projects are initially temporary in nature, there is a growing interest in their potential integration into local plans and programs. Within this framework, the paper proposes the development of an analysis protocol for identifying optimal locations for street experiments interventions, focusing particularly on parklets, through a comprehensive examination of various components of the urban context. The protocol is then tested in the Oltretorrente neighbourhood in Parma, Italy. The adoption of such a localization protocol holds promise for enhancing the likelihood of successful interventions and advancing the integration of tactical urbanism initiatives into long-term urban planning strategies.