What is a Parklet?

The term ‘Parklet’ is generally attributed to San Francisco where it was first used to describe the process of converting one or more street parking spaces on urban streets into a small public ‘park’ or enclosed seating area. Since that time, numerous cities have adopted alternative names including People Spots, Street Seats, Streateries, Pocket Parks, Street Patio and Spark.

Parklets are primarily intended as assets for the entire community by introducing new streetscape features such as plantings, bicycle parking and additional outdoor street seating for nearby shops. They are generally not intended to be associated with a specific retail outlet, even if they may be located directly outside such outlets,  but are meant to be available for use by any and all passing pedestrians. Nevertheless, studies have shown they typically result in increased pedestrian activity and additional sales at nearby businesses by breaking the flow of foot traffic and giving passersby a reason to stop, socialize and relax. Naturally, they work best in shopping strips with active pedestrian traffic and which feature a mix of retail outlets.

The best designed parklets take into consideration amenities that would benefit the immediate surroundings, such as tables and chairs, bench seating, lighting, planters, and landscaping. Solar phone charging stations, which can be incorporated into seating, tables or umbrellas, can also be a very effective means of increasing patronage. Bicycle racks can also be included in the parklet design as well.

Establishing a local parklet normally begins as a proposal by an individual or group who commits to the process and expense of gaining community support for their vision, applying for a permit, designing the parklet, submitting proposals and all required documentation to the relevant authorities, organizing the installation and taking responsibility for ongoing maintenance.

All parklets must comply with local regulations and design criteria for street seating which put user safety and functionality at the forefront. They are limited to where they can be positioned in relation to bus stops, utilities and street corners, are required to have a perimeter of a specific height while still providing vistas across the street and end buffer zones to safely separate the seating area from vehicle traffic. They must possess all required permits, meet ADA requirements, maintain roadway drainage, allow for access to any below-ground utilities, be properly insured, possess a maintenance plan and enhance the vibrancy of the area with seating and landscaping.

Parklets can be an outstanding addition to any neighborhood. Archatrak is committed to making more parklets and street seating a reality by offering a more affordable, modular, easy to build and disassemble, self-contained deck structure. Our ‘StreetDeck’ modular decks are specifically designed around the concept of Parklets complete with integrated planters, benches and railings.  While StreetDeck is available as a ready to assemble kit,  it can also serve as the basis for totally customizable designs, by using just the self-contained platform and adding planters, railings, furniture etc. from other suppliers.