Parklet

A parklet serves as a sidewalk extension onto the roadway that adds space and amenities for people to access and use. Parklets usually extend out at sidewalk level using a raised platform but may be installed at street-level for demonstration projects. They typically take up the entire width of a parking lane and the length of at least one vehicle parking spot. Parklets may include furniture items such as tables, chairs, and benches, in addition to planters, lighting, and bike racks. They might also include canopies to shelter people from the elements. Built with diverse materials, parklets are usually tailored to their unique use.

Łódź, Poland (Wikimedia Commons, Zorro2212, CC BY-SA 4.0)	San Francisco, CA (Wikimedia Commons, Mark Hogan from San Francisco, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Program Goals This Project Type Meets

• Invite public use
• Improve business

Typical Applications

• Along commercial streets or neighborhood retail corridors where there is moderate to heavy foot traffic and the need for public space is greater than the need for car parking.
• At schools to add space for outdoor learning, seating, bike parking, or waiting for the bus. 
• As a pedestrian buffer, where there is a lack of separation between the sidewalk space and the roadway.
• As a sidewalk extension, where there is a need for more outdoor public space along the sidewalk.

Material Options 

• Structural materials
  • Metal
  • Wood
  • Plastic
  • Concrete
• Vertical Barriers
  • Demonstration
    • Traffic cones
    • Traffic barrels
    • Freestanding delineators
    • Flex post
    • K71 flex posts
    • Wave delineators
    • Planters
    • Plastic jersey barriers
    • Type III Barricade
    • Parking stops
  • Pilot or RAPID Projects
    • Flex post
    • K71 flex posts
    • Wave delineators
    • Planters
    • Plastic jersey barriers
    • Concrete jersey barriers
    • Parking stops
• Furniture and aesthetic materials
  • Artificial turf
  • Plant material / landscaping
  • Wooden or metal decks, pillars, and canopies
  • Wooden, metal, and/or plastic street furnishings (benches, chairs, tables)

Design Considerations

• Parklets are for public access and need to be designed accordingly. Use strong materials that will withstand the natural elements and the number of people that will use the parklet.
• Consider the speed at which vehicles travel adjacent to the parklet and what type of buffer will be needed.
• Consider stormwater runoff and how the existing curb configurations will work with the new raised platform installation.
• Consider ADA access on and off the parklet for wheelchairs, strollers, and other devices.
• Consider installing wheel stops at least four feet away from parklet to separate parklet from adjacent parking spots.
• Minimum desired parklet width is six feet.
• Minimum desired buffer space between parklet and travel way is two feet.
• Consider crashworthy barriers such as jersey barriers.

Other Considerations

• Consider coordinating with adjacent businesses on placement and design.
• Consider the effects on the parking supply the parklet will be replacing.
• Consider combining a parklet with a curb extension, if near an intersection.

Other Resources

• Downtown Orlando Parklet Program