SoFa Pocket Park Project: Reclaiming and Revitalizing Surface Parking Space

540 South First Street in downtown San Jose, California was previously an underutilized parking lot that has been transformed into a vibrant, art-filled, food-focused community space. SoFA Pocket Park opened in Summer 2021 and features raised planter beds where local residents learn to grow their own food, a farm stand selling locally grown produce, pop-up food trucks, eight stunning textile-inspired murals by local artists, and a dog park. The purpose of this project is to conduct community outreach to ensure that the design and programming of the SoFA Pocket Park is as welcoming and inclusive as possible with a goal to raise awareness about the importance of urban agriculture as a component of fostering healthy communities and reclaiming underutilized space previously dedicated to vehicles. This project involves a collaboration between MTI, SJSU’s CommUniverCity, the SJSU Department of Urban & Regional Planning, and Veggielution.