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 for street parklets including People Spots, Street Seats, Streateries, Pocket Parks, Street Patio and Spark, although some of these terms like Streatery are more commonly applied to structures which are used for outdoor dining and may extend beyond one or more shop fronts.

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 were originally not intended to be associated with a specific retail outlet or to provide exclusive space for restaurant patrons, even if they were located directly outside such outlets,  but were meant to be available for use by any and all passing pedestrians. This situation did change somewhat during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic years when parklets morphed more widely into their use as a streatery where they offered a convenient solution for many cities to allow restaurants to remain open by serving patrons in the open air.

Establishing a local street parklet or streatery 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.

The best-designed street 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.

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. Many studies have shown that Parklets 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.

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 for both Parklet and Streatery applications 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.

Due to the modular design, StreetDeck Parklets can be extended to any practical length, and although 6′ width is most common, other widths are also possible.