Ever heard of parklets? They’re a mini-oasis in a sea of concrete and asphalt, popping up, seemingly overnight, in what were previously parking places, in San Francisco and Oakland.
Parklets are designed to provide a public place for citizens to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the city around them, in places where either current urban parks are lacking or where the existing sidewalk width is not large enough to accommodate vibrant street life activities. The parklet above is located at the Trouble Café at 4033 Judah Street in San Francisco. Photo by Karl Nielsen
Published: February, 2013
Ever heard of parklets? They’re a mini-oasis in a sea of concrete and asphalt, popping up, seemingly overnight, in what were previously parking places, in San Francisco and Oakland.
In reality, it takes months and months to design proposed parklets and obtain approval and permits from city planning departments. Bay Area parklets are funded by grants, businesses and/or residents. Once designed, approved and installed (at an average cost of $10,000), sponsors must also commit to regular upkeep and maintenance of the renovated spaces.
Parklets provide a public place for people to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the city around them, in places where either current urban parks are lacking or if the existing sidewalk width is insufficient to accommodate street-life activities. Curbside parking spaces are converted into these new public spaces for greenery and gathering places. Most include benches and/or tables and chairs, along with planters, and some feature bike racks. The parklets trend started in San Francisco in 2005; since then, parklets have appeared in such cities as New York and Philadelphia and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Perhaps the Bay Area’s most unusual parklet is located in San Francisco’s Marina district at the corner of Filbert and Fillmore streets. At least for now, the parklet consists of a gray Citroen van that’s been split in two, with seating, greenery and bike parking nestled between the two sections. Due to a glitch in the paperwork process, the unique vehicle parts may have to be removed.
The parklet sponsored and maintained by Devil’s Teeth Baking Co. features wooden planters with bunch grass spilling over planters attached to the backs of benches. Located on Noriega Street in San Francisco, it’s just three blocks from Ocean Beach. And residents and visitors to the 4000 block of Judah Street in San Francisco have two parklets to choose from in front of the Outerlands Café and Trouble Coffee. On a recent winter’s day, hardy souls braved the cold in coats, knit hats and/or gloves, taking a break from bike rides or walking the dog.
San Francisco currently has 38 parklets installed, with 13 more undergoing final review and another 19 under initial review, said Kay Cheng, Urban Designer/Planner with the San Francisco Planning Department.
Oakland’s first permanent parklet, not far from Lake Merritt, opened in September 2012 outside Farley’s East Café on Grand Avenue near Broadway. A second Oakland parklet opened in November on 40th Street in the Temescal district in front of the Manifesto Bike Shop and Subrosa Coffee near Webster Street. In addition to the usual tables and benches, the space incorporates a huge t-shaped log as part of the seating.
"We’ve been hearing that people are enjoying and using the parklets," said Laura Kaminski, City of Oakland Parklet Project Manager. Four additional parklets were accepted as part of the pilot program and are at various stages of construction or approval, Kaminski said. The probable next parklet to open will be at Actual Café, on San Pablo Avenue at Alcatraz Avenue, she said.
Meanwhile, the Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is supporting the parklets movement via its Complete Streets initiative, and an associated new grant program. "With Complete Streets, we’re encouraging cities to widen the definition of road projects to include amenities that encourage walking, bicycling and use of public transit, instead of focusing exclusively on cars," said Sean Co, MTC’s Active Transportation planner. Parklets are a key component of that new equation.
By Georgia Lambert, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Public Information
Oakland’s first permanent parklet, not far from Lake Merritt, opened in September 2012 outside Farley’s East Café on Grand Avenue near Broadway. Photo by Karl Nielsen
In addition to the usual tables and benches, the Oakland parklet located on 40th Street in the Temescal district in front of the Manifesto Bike Shop and Subrosa Coffee near Webster Street incorporates a huge t-shaped log as part of the seating. Photo by Karl Nielsen
