Bustle slowly returning to Pocket Park
Nelson’s urban breakout area in the CBD is coming back to life - it just needs a little more love.
The Pocket Park on Bridge St was a hive of activity during last year’s summer and the vibe is hoped to be replicated again this year.
Leased by Gravity cycles, Gravity employee and Pocket Park administrator Anne Karschunke said the park was up and running again but was a ‘‘work in progress’’.
She said four food carts had committed to the space one day a week but she was hoping to get it buzzing with options every day.
Last year, ‘‘every day someone was here’’ with their food stalls ‘‘so we’re trying to get back to that’’.
Fridays were the busiest day, Karschunke said.
‘‘From there we hope they just kind of branch out to other days and that more people want to come.’’
The space is designed to be a hang out spot for locals, workers and visitors.
‘‘People can just come down and enjoy lunch that they bring with them and sit outside and not have to be in the office - just an urban space where people can hang out, not necessarily have to buy food.’’
For those who don’t have a packed lunch, the options include Brew, Viva la Vaca and El Calipso.
Karschunke was working on getting more carts on board.
She said some of the park’s spark would be brought back from last year while there were other ideas which would need to be approved by the trust owners.
The stage would see buskers entertaining the park’s visitors and the children would be able to play in the sandbox once it was refilled with sand and toys.
New possible concepts for the space included a night market and a movie night.
‘‘It has lots of potential, it needs a bit of love, we know that but we’re happy to do that because we like the space.’’
One of the food carts owners is back for her second year in El Calipso.
Owner Lida Aston serves authentic South American cuisine from her stall.
She said the park gave visitors a chance to get ‘‘close to culture’’ with the different food on offer.
Aston has taken the space under her wing, providing plants ‘‘to give life to this place’’.
‘‘We’re very lucky to have this.’’