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Parking Spaces In West Philadelphia Converted Into 'Parklet'

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia has hundreds of acres of parkland, but today it's getting a wee bit more: two West Philly parking spaces are being converted into a temporary park.

It's called a "parklet" and it's been used with apparent success in other cities including New York.

Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler says the city is placing one today on two parking spaces at 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue.

"It will be a nice space for folks in the neighborhood to sit for a minute, catch their breath, meet their neighbors. And we think the concept -- which has worked very successfully in New York and San Francisco -- will really work well in Philly neighborhoods."

This first parklet will be tested at this West Philly location through October. Cutler says no city dollars are being used -- the project is funded through a grant from the William Penn Foundation. She hopes the portable parklet will move to other neighborhoods next spring.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060

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