Transforming on-street parking into public seating areas is taking hold across North America. A ‘street seat’ or ‘parklet’ is typically an extended platform over one to three parking spaces, and can include benches, tables, chairs, landscaping, and bike parking.
The parklets are semi-permanent and offer a multitude of benefits:
• Dynamic public spaces – Parklets provide places for people to sit, relax, and enjoy the city.
• Wider sidewalks – Parklets can provide more space for people to walk where sidewalks are narrow or congested.
• Vibrant local businesses – Parklets are unique public spaces that provide seating and attract potential customers.
• Social life – Parklets foster a sense of community by creating welcoming public spaces.
Source: City of Vancouver, B.C.
Here’s a look at what five communities are doing.
Vancouver, B.C.
In Vancouver, parklets are sponsored by private partners but are free and open for any member of the public to use (Vancouver web page). Advertising, table service, and other commercial activities are not permitted.
San Francisco
The parklet movement began in San Francisco in 2005. Rebar, an art and design studio, rolled out some grass, invited passersby to sit, and then packed up and went home once their two-hour lease with the City expired. Park(ing) Day was born.
Today, Park(ing) Day is celebrated by various communities on the third Friday of September. San Francisco took steps to make the parklets permanent. The City piloted its Pavement to Parks program in 2010 and today there are over 40 other parklets.
Portland
Now in its third year, Street Seats is a program of the Portland Bureau of Transportation that allows businesses and non-profit organizations to convert on-street parking into other public uses, such as café seating or a mini-park. With eleven locations, the program enlivens the streetscape by creating spaces for Portlanders to enjoy seating and a meal or drink outdoors, which in turn enhances street vitality and benefits local businesses. Last year the City held a competition for design ideas in collaboration with the Center for Architecture Design. Two winning designs were selected and constructed.
Brooklyn
The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is bringing street seats to downtown Brooklyn. First installed at MetroTech Center, they are designed to be modular and will move around to different locations.
Designed by FANTÁSTICA, the seats are sidewalk-facing designs with vertical elements, like plants and umbrellas, that still enable visibility for cars passing by in the street. The seats are constructed of Eucalyptus wood.
Sacramento
The City of Sacramento has started a parklet program also. The developer and owner of a midtown Sacramento project recently obtained approvals to build a semi-permanent parklet in front of his building. The City granted a two-year permit for the project. According to Sacramento officials, the parklet provides a path for merchants, community organizations, business owners, and residents to take individual actions in the development and beautification of the public realm.
While parklets in Sacramento and elsewhere are funded and maintained by neighboring businesses, residents, and community organizations, they are publicly accessible and open to all.