Our public spaces—parks, plazas, and, strip malls—and their
temporary urban interventions—pop-ups, parklets—have the
potential to catalyze positive impact for local communities and
neighbourhoods. However, it is often challenging for citymakers to
assess the impact of these projects.
This research project presents a customized approach to impact
assessment through the collaborative development of a temporary
urban intervention impact assessment framework.
The framework is presented in partnership with a recent
temporary urban intervention, plazaPOPS, an initiative to
transform inner-suburban strip mall parking lots into a community
gathering place. This framework presents an approach to the
measurement of a temporary urban intervention that is impactfocused,
agile and process-driven. This framework will be
leveraged by plazaPOPS to support a streamlined approach to
measurement for future projects and support the growth of the
plazaPOPS brand.
The framework presents a four research stages to impact
assessment: Explore, Define, Experiment, Evaluate. The four
phases of impact assessment are supported by a process toolkit,
key principles for measurement and supporting indicators. This
research identifies opportunities to incorporate a process and
outcome-driven approach, support the individual and community,
integrate a foresight lens to impact measurement and explore the
appropriate threshold of complexity in the impact assessment of
temporary urban interventions.
The resulting framework contributes to the broader conversation
on the impact assessment of public spaces, while providing a
tangible, real-world application through the plazaPOPS project.