Street For Kids Cerrillos

PROJECTS & PROCESS > PROTOTYPES & TACTICS

Reclaiming public space for play and physical activity in neighborhoods undergoing densification.

Lugar
Santiago, Chile

Año
2024

Objectives

Promote play and physical activity within the Pedro Aguirre Cerda School community.
Transform a vehicle-centric street into a safe and welcoming pedestrian environment for children and caregivers.
Demonstrate the benefits of child-centered interventions in neighborhoods facing high urban densification.
Foster community cohesion through participatory design and the ownership of public space.

Methodology

The project was developed through a four-month collaborative process that integrated:

Participatory Design: Active involvement of over 200 people, including students, caregivers, neighbors, municipal officials, and architecture students.
Strategic Pedestrianization: Closing a 70-meter section of the street for exclusive pedestrian use.
Tactical Urbanism Implementation:

Playful Furniture: Installation of structures designed for play and rest.
Green Infrastructure: Incorporation of vegetation to improve environmental comfort.
Art and Signage: Application of vibrant pavement art to create identity and a "sense of place."

Clients / Partners

Leadership: Ciudad Emergente.
Strategic Alliances: Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), Municipality of Cerrillos, and Universidad Mayor.
Community: Pedro Aguirre Cerda School.

Results & Impact

Surface Reclamation: Reclaimed 820 square meters of public space for socialization and play.
Increased Pedestrian Flow: Pedestrian volume in the area increased by 562%.
Growth in Caregiving Activities: Recorded a 100% increase in activities related to childcare on the street.
Perceived Safety: 100% of survey participants reported feeling safer following the intervention.
Citizen Activation: Following the pilot’s success, the school community collected over 100 signatures from children and families to petition the mayor's office for permanent pedestrianization of the street.

Conclusions

El proyecto en Cerrillos evidencia cómo una intervención puntual puede transformar la dinámica de un barrio entero. El éxito rotundo en las métricas de uso y la posterior movilización ciudadana (cartas y firmas a la autoridad) demuestran que, cuando se prioriza la perspectiva infantil, la comunidad reconoce y defiende el valor de calles abiertas para todos. Es un ejemplo potente de cómo el urbanismo táctico sirve como herramienta de incidencia para cambios normativos y permanentes en la ciudad.

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