Food & Drink
The Parklets are Coming! Now, What are They, Exactly?
We spell out a few pros and cons to this new addition to our fine urban landscape
By Mandolin Brassaw July 24, 2014
This article originally appeared in the August 2014 issue of Seattle magazine.
PROS
Parklets are miniature parks, funded, designed, built and maintained by the applicant (often a neighboring business) or community volunteers, so there’s no cost to taxpayers.
Parklets prioritize the pedestrian experience and aim to improve the neighborhood vibe, often with the addition of bike racks and seating.
CONS
Although the I.D. parklet did not take up existing parking spaces, on average a parklet usurps one to two parking spots in a city that is already notoriously difficult to park in.
Parklets are open to the public 24 hours a day, which has some residents worried they will become hotspots for homelessness, illegal activity and general late-night rowdiness.
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