Taking it to the street – parklets
By: J. David Chapman/September 24, 2020
I was introduced to the parklet concept several years ago at a national meeting of the Urban Land Institute. I was an instant proponent of the concept.
A parklet is a public seating platform that converts curbside parking into vibrant community spaces. You may have seen them referred to as street seats, streateries, or curbside seating; they are a partnership between the city and local businesses, residents, and neighborhood associations.
Both Oklahoma City and Edmond city councils have approved parklets in their urban core. At a time when we are limiting seating in eating establishments and trying to physically distance restaurant patrons, outside seating has been extremely popular around the country. Many restaurants and bars have expanded outside seating onto the sidewalks outside their establishments.
The problem is our urban streetscapes and sidewalks are typically narrow and not wide enough to safely seat many people. Where these narrow sidewalks have prevented the installation of sidewalk cafes concepts, restaurants have gotten creative and used the parking spots in front to expand their seating.
To obtain a parklet, property owners enter into an agreement with the city, in some cases through a citywide application process, procuring curbside seating in place of one or more parking spaces. It is imperative that we help our restaurants and bars succeed during this difficult time. Parklets are a way the city can help them financially as well as build a sense of community. Restaurants and bars will have a distinctive design in their parklet, offering seating, tables, heaters and fans.
The city has considered the safety elements of parklets and will install barriers between the traffic lanes and the patrons as a buffer for those wanting to utilize parklets. Oklahoma City and Edmond are extremely excited to partner with businesses to help offset the adverse effects of the pandemic. We still have a month or so of prime patio weather in Oklahoma and, even after that, we are hoping restaurant patrons will put on a coat and restaurants can use heaters to help extend the patio season.
Please help our cities in their efforts to help these participating restaurants and go take a seat at one of these parklets in your community. Together, we will continue to succeed and prosper during this pandemic.
J. David Chapman is an associate professor of finance and real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).