Parklets for the People of Syracuse!
PARKlets for the People!
What are PARKlets?
They are public seating platforms that convert curbside parking spaces into vibrant community spaces. PARKlets are the product of a partnership between the city and local businesses, residents & neighborhood associations.
They will incorporates seating, greenery, and/or bike racks and accommodate unmet demand for public space on formerly - thriving neighborhood retail streets or commercial areas.
Syracuse, here's the pitch:
Happy to say that with some of my input the City has created a PARKlet permit application that allows any business who have a current sidewalk café permit (That gives them legal permission to host outdoor dining/seating on the sidewalks in front of their local businesses) as a new additional option to expand their patio/outdoor seating...
SUPER COOL! This will definitely help local businesses - and offer a simple innovative solution to merchants struggling with occupancy limits!
Ok , what is next?
Quite simply, we will use funds raised to build wheelbarrel-esk mobile mini parks that are, one-part bench, one part tree - that will act as book-end partitions at either end of a parking space. The area of pavement in the center, previously used to park a vehicle will transform instantly into a simple yet effective expansion of outdoor seating. Since the mobile PARKlets are on wheels, they can easily be stored on sidewalks adjacent to businesses when not in use.
Along with a small team of handy type volunteers - I would like to build these PARKlets and gift them to small businesses throughout the city to give them a new and exciting way to expand upon their seating options.
What your donation will pay for:
• $50 permit fee to the City of Syracuse.
• $500 materials to build 2 PARKlets (includes pay for the fabricators/build team)
• $11.25 is the parking meter cost to pay for a single parking spot per day.
• $11.25 x 90 days (AUG-OCT) = $1,012.50 to pay for one parking spot (2 additional tables) for everyday until weather won't allow us to enjoy outdoor seating.
$1,562.50 TOTAL COST FOR 2 PARKELTS @ NO COST TO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO THESE PARKLETS WILL BE GIFTED TO.
+ $1,012.50 for another parking spot = 4-5 additional tables )
**Design provided by german-based Wanderbaumallee Stuttgart
The business will sign liability waivers, as they do already for their sidewalk café permits. Design/build team will create them and deliver ASAP to businesses. We will have more trees, more seating and reclaim pavement for more walkability which benefits everyone!! The PARKlets will be on a first-come basis for businesses that have current sidewalk café permits and available parking spaces 30 feet from m intersections in areas where the speed limit is 30mph or less. (this is the standard for parklets in US Cities.)
PARKlets for the People!
Our community health depends on working together, and our small businesses are the heart of Downtown Syracuse. Let's support them now!!!
Thanks much,
Michael John Heagerty
Small Business Supporter and Tactical Urbanist.
Interested in being a part of the build team?
e-mail: [email redacted]
++ Cover Photo by Syracuse University Alumni He Shi
Organizer
Inspired to help? Start a fundraiser for someone you know
