Barren Toronto parking lots have been transforming into inviting pop-up parks

Congested suburban strip mall parking lots are the last place one would expect to encounter pockets of foot and cycling traffic, but for the past few years, some of these car-dominated pedestrian wastelands have been shedding that identity thanks to an ongoing initiative known as plazaPOPS.

The brainchild of Brendan Stewart and Karen Landman, who are both professors of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph, as well as author/cartographer Daniel Rotsztain, the project was spearheaded in a 2019 pilot transforming surface parking at Wexford Heights Plaza in Scarborough into an inviting pedestrian environment.

Interested in visiting plazaPOPS at @AlbionIslington? Stop by any day until Oct 24 to enjoy the vibrancy of the Thistletown neighbourhood, or come to one of our upcoming events!https://t.co/AUeLY1Cb57 pic.twitter.com/yalGBKqkgh

— plazaPOPS (@plaza_pops) September 14, 2022

This first installation, known as WexPOPS, occupied just ten parking spots, but its success has created an appetite for even more community pop-ups in other suburban neighbourhoods across Toronto.

In the years since, plazaPOPS — named in a fusion of the strip plazas being transformed with privately-owned public spaces, or POPS — has taken its community-led, low-cost process to lots with an aim to create free and accessible spaces to address a lack of amenities for pedestrians and transit users.

Happy 1-month anniversary to ThistlePOPS, launched as part of the SUMMER OF JOY festival with @AlbionIslington BIA & Rexdale Hub! Enjoy these scenes from the day— our next 3 sites are opening very soon! pic.twitter.com/5pfTTCWNZS

— plazaPOPS (@plaza_pops) August 30, 2022

The successful 2019 pilot landed public funding for the project's next phases from the Federal Development Agency for Southern Ontario, most recently for the launch of the Albion Islington Squares.

We are 👏SO👏PSYCHED👏 about the exquisitely beautiful road mural created by @tmg_magic and friends at ThistlePOPS. Not only does it provide colour and vibrancy to our largest 2022 plazaPOPS installation, it is a crosswalk linking the street and bus stop to the plaza businesses pic.twitter.com/bZKTB4vqse

— plazaPOPS (@plaza_pops) September 14, 2022

This group of four parking lots spread throughout the Albion Islington Square BIA in North Etobicoke has been repurposed into community spaces until Oct. 24 in a partnership with the Rexdale Community Hub and local BIA.

Our next 3 sites have officially opened at @AlbionIslington!
Be sure to visit “The Spot” (2627 Islington), “24K Corner” (2655 Islington), and “IsleStyle” (979 Albion) on your next trip to this vibrant and delicious corner of North Etobicoke! pic.twitter.com/oWg4F6bsIP

— plazaPOPS (@plaza_pops) September 9, 2022

It may run counter to trends of urban intensification, but pop-up spaces like these actually embrace the conditions of the inner suburbs. Instead of drastically changing the engrained way of life, they open up areas not necessarily designed with foot traffic in mind to new users while supporting businesses hard hit by two years of rolling lockdowns.