LA pilot takes inspiration from Barcelona’s superblocks

Los Angeles is seeking to emulate Barcelona’s superblocks with its own “Park Block” pilot programme.

The concept focuses on reorganising traffic in certain areas of the city to create more public space with quiet and safe streets for leisure and greenery.

In Barcelona, where large parts of the city are already designed along a uniform block grid, the city identified collections of blocks – usually three by three – which are then restricted to cars to allow for more space for pedestrians and cyclists.

Los Angeles City Council has now given the green light for the city to create its own Park Block pilot, following a proposal from Councilmember Kevin de León which was approved last month. The programme would be “thoughtfully designed and personalised to Los Angeles”.

“Park Blocks can save lives lost to poor air quality and traffic violence,” the City Council Transportation Committee said in a report.

“They can create instant public open space with substantial shade, outdoor recreation, greening and storm water capture in communities desperate for parks, and they can be accomplished using participatory and customised public processes.”

Potential costs or a start date have not yet been established, but the Transportation Committee report recommended that: “Given the limited resources for initial pilots, priority areas should be chosen among communities who have the least access to public space, highest health disparities, high population densities and the desire to participate in the programme.”

Superblocks

Superblocks were first introduced in 2016 by Barcelona’s former Mayor Ada Colau.

A report by Barcelona’s Public Health Agency (ASPB) in October 2021 found the scheme resulted in a 25 percent drop in NO2 levels in some areas, but that pollution may also be increasing on surrounding streets.

The assessment, carried out over three years in three of the city’s four superblocks – Poblenou, Sant Antoni and Horta – included surveys with residents to understand the social impacts, as well as air quality monitoring to measure environmental and health benefits.

Other cities in Europe have since followed Barcelona’s model.

In April 2023, Stuttgart in Germany decided to create three superblocks after adopting a sustainable development plan with over 200 measures. The city’s first superblock is expected to be operational by spring of 2024.

Image: dillon-shook-unsplash