The City of San José  is encouraging small business owners to implement parklets to serve customers and enhance revenues.

A parklet is the use of street parking and sidewalk spaces for public use. Generally, parklets have been implemented in urban landscapes and downtown regions such as in Downtown San José for pedestrian and dining use. Typically, restaurants expand their businesses into customer seating in their parklets, but there are many creative uses for parklets such as planting, bicycle parking, or elements of play. 

The Office of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) is working to bring the opportunity of parklet implementation to businesses. According to Development Facilitation Officer Emily Lipoma, OEDCA is working to transition parklets that were deemed temporary at the height of the pandemic into permanent parklets.  

Parklets were a value-add before as well as during the thick of the pandemic. However, given their necessity during the pandemic, a few prerequisites were temporarily lifted. Now in a post-pandemic shift, the city is working to bring these temporary parklets up to City standards.  

Before the pandemic, many business owners citywide were not willing to sacrifice parking in order to serve customers outdoors. However, the pandemic public health restrictions on indoor operations meant that moving outdoors was the only way to continue to serve customers. As the city pivots to a post-pandemic setting, there has been a shift in thinking in regards to the necessity of parking in front of business.  

Parklets are an advantage for many reasons. These unique spaces can expand the business' operating square footage. They also allow for showcasing a business’ creativity through their usage of the outdoor area. Neighborhoods and non-business owners also see a value to having people dine "alfresco." The parklets can activate the streetscape, attract pedestrians to neighboring retailers,  and make the city livelier.

The City of San José  is working to make the opportunity of parklet implementation well known. One of their main goals is to be cost-efficient at a low fee. The downtown outlook is to build an ecosystem of thriving businesses and neighborhoods, and parklets are a step in the right direction. More information on parklets can be found on the City website.