Reclaiming Streets Interim Implementation in Avcılar

Reclaiming Streets is a practice-based learning program prepared by Marmara Municipalities Union (MBB) Local Government Academy in collaboration with Superpool and Global Designing Cities Initiative. The program aims to create public spaces that prioritize pedestrian and child use with fast and cost-effective design strategies and raise awareness about street transformation projects. Leyla Bayram Elementary School in Avcılar Yeşilkent is the most crowded elementary school in Türkiye with approximately 7000 students, between the ages of 4-14, receiving education in this school. The lack of playgrounds in the neighborhood and the security problems experienced during the commute to and from school led to the necessity of addressing the semi-traffic-free area next to the school within the scope of this project. Within the scope of this interim implementation, Avcılar Municipality has completely closed this area to traffic, slowed down the traffic on the main axes with speed bumps, and created a place where children can play safely on their way to and from school, providing caregivers a place they can wait safely with urban furniture, guiding floor drawings and traditional groundplays placed in the area.