In 2021 the City of College Park, GA installed what was believed to be the longest parklet in the country at that time, and maybe still is. At almost 90’ long and 6’ wide, it occupies the space normally taken up by seven car parking spaces.
In December 2020, the Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance permitting restaurants and bars to expand outdoor seating into parking spaces in front of or adjacent to their establishments, through the end of 2021. The City of Atlanta agreed to cover the cost of the building materials and installation of the structures while the restaurants and bars supplied the tables and chairs.
Following on from this initiative, the City of College Park also launched a street seating program, funded with a combination of public and private funds, with College Park Main Street Association donating $15,000 and the City adding $25,000 raised from the community. The culmination of these efforts enabled the installation of the record breaking structure.
The installation spans three retail businesses adjacent to the sidewalk – The Real Milk and Honey, Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen and Bar and Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles with color-coded chairs and tables defining the dining area for each restaurant.
The complete structure including planters and railings was supplied by Archatrak and highlighted the versatility of the StreetDeck modular deck kit. StreetDeck was developed as a more affordable means of creating compact community meeting and seating areas using modular components which could easily be brought on site and assembled by unskilled labor. Initially, it was envisaged that these modular decks would occupy either one or two car parking spaces, but it soon became apparent that much longer decks were required to meet the needs of outdoor dining space alongside restaurants with restricted indoor dining space. Fortunately, the design of StreetDeck allows it to be extended as a totally integrated unit for as long as you wish, and (subject to some constraints) it can also be extended in width from the basic 6’ dimension.
Porcelain pavers made up the surface of the College Park installation, but StreetDeck can also be surfaced with an Ipe wood deck, using 2’ x 2’ structural wood tiles. The entire deck is supported by adjustable pedestals which resolve the issue of the roadway slope and helps the deck sit flush with the sidewalk. Planters create a more welcoming ambiance and at night, solar powered umbrellas with LED lights are often used to extend dining hours since they avoid the issue of bringing power cords across the sidewalk.
The entire structure can be easily dismantled and stored if necessary. Not only do people enjoy being in the open air, but most businesses adjacent to these streetside seating areas such as this, report an increased vibrancy and a welcome boost to their business.