Strolling through Boston’s busiest shopping areas could become a real walk in the park if the mayor’s latest idea comes to life.

On the heels of International PARK(ing) Day on Friday, where dozens of parking places became urban hangouts with grass and lawn chairs, Mayor Thomas Menino announced a push for a new project to change more concrete spaces into “parklets;” small patios that offer various uses for public enjoyment.

“Parklets will provide a place for you to sit with a cup of coffee or a sandwich from a local shop and enjoy your neighborhood,” said Menino in a statement.  “You can meet your neighbors and relax in some green space, all in or near one of our main street districts.”

City officials will seek a team this fall to design and build the first parklets.  Residents can expect to see the first three to four parklets pop-up during spring, summer and fall of 2013.  If the pilot program is successful, and residents seem to enjoy the temporary mini-park spaces, the program will be expanded in the following years.

The project, which will be led by the city’s Transportation Department, will require the help of community groups and local businesses to find and locate the best areas to host parklets in the city.

Those “parklet partners,” as Menino calls them, will then be responsible for maintaining the space while it is there.

“Providing safe and efficient access for all users of our roadway system is a key priority, but local streets can serve Boston’s neighborhoods as great public spaces as well,” said Boston Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin in a statement.  “This parklet pilot is…an effort to rethink and upgrade the design of Boston’s streets based on the needs of our residents and businesses.”

Parklets is a project of the city’s Complete Streets Initiative and the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics. The collaborative is an effort to make sure Boston maintains some urban green space while ensuring the city is multimodal.