parklets

Parklets give cities a practical way to turn a small piece of roadway into a more useful community space. By converting one or more curbside parking spaces, a municipality can create room for public seating, outdoor dining, or neighborhood events without undertaking a permanent streetscape project.

A successful parklet begins with the idea of creating more space for your community to be outside when they can, and ends with incorporating SelectSpace into the design to create a consistent appearance and make the parklet easier to change over time.

What Is a Parklet?

A parklet is typically a sidewalk extension that takes over curbside parking spaces. It creates additional room for people to sit, gather, and enjoy the surrounding business district. The exact definition varies by municipality. A public parklet is usually open to everyone, regardless of whether they bought something from a nearby business. A parklet used primarily for restaurant seating may instead be called a commercial parklet, streatery, or curbside dining.

Before extending the sidewalk into a parklet, municipalities should clearly define how each space may be used, who will maintain it, and whether it must remain open to the general public.

How Parklets Support Downtown Districts

Parklets can add useful public space where sidewalks are too narrow for seating, landscaping, or other amenities. They can also help a city test how curbside space might be used before investing in permanent construction.

Depending on the location and program, a parklet can provide:

Public seating along a busy commercial street
Additional space for outdoor dining
Landscaping and greenery
Bicycle parking
Space for public art or neighborhood information
Flexible areas for markets, festivals and seasonal events
A more coordinated appearance throughout a downtown district

Parklets are especially useful when a municipality wants to support local businesses while creating an intentional, welcoming streetscape.

How SelectSpace Can Be Used in a Parklet

SelectSpace modular partitions can help define and organize the area within a city-approved parklet. Panels, stands, planter stands, and gates can be combined to fit different footprints and operating needs.

Define the Parklet Without Closing It Off

Our circle or square weave panels create a visible boundary while maintaining an open appearance. The partitions are semi-permanent. This means you can remove the partitions when you need to or easily add to the modular system.

One important note: SelectSpace is not a crash-rated barrier system. You must purchase bollards, traffic barriers, or other protective components separately. We've found SelectSpace works best for a parklet on a closed-off street.

Adjust the Layout as Needs Change

Parklets don't always serve the same purpose. A space used for restaurant seating during the week might be used for an early morning Farmer's Market on Saturday.

SelectSpace components connect with movable arms and a push-button system, allowing panels and stands to be rearranged without specialized tools. A municipality or business can modify entrances or create a different configuration without rebuilding the entire parklet.

Add Greenery Without Permanent Construction

Planters, planter stands, and hanging planters from SelectSpace can soften the appearance of a curbside installation and help it feel more private. Plants can also help distinguish the parklet from surrounding pavement. And if you use fake plants, you don't have to water them!

Simplify Seasonal Changes and Storage

Some cities require parklets or roadway dining to be removed during winter so snow removal can occur. Because SelectSpace is modular, you can easily store the components when they aren't needed. You can also add components later when the program expands, or a participating business receives approval for a larger footprint.

Creating a Municipal Parklet Program With SelectSpace

SelectSpace can support a single parklet installation or a coordinated program covering several businesses.

For a larger program, the municipality can establish an approved design, colors, and component types. Each location can then be configured around its available dimensions, entrances, and operating requirements while keeping a recognizable community-wide look.

SelectSpace also offers complimentary layout assistance. With a simple sketch, measurements, photos, and the municipality's design requirements, the team can recommend the panels, stands, planters, and gates needed for each location.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parklets

Is a parklet the same as an outdoor dining area?

Not always. A traditional parklet is public space that anyone may use. Some cities permit commercial dining within parklets or operate separate roadway café and streatery programs. The local program will determine who can use the space and how it may be operated.

Can SelectSpace Partitions protect a parklet from vehicles?

No. SelectSpace Partitions define your space, but they are not crash-rated barriers.

Can SelectSpace Partitions be moved?

Yes. The modular system uses push-button connections and movable arms, allowing panels and stands to be easily disconnected and rearranged. Components can be reconfigured for events or removed for storage, subject to the municipality's operating requirements.

Can the partitions match a city's design standards?

Yes. SelectSpace offers different two-panel patterns, custom powder-coat colors, planter options, and laser-cut graphic panels. A municipality can establish an approved system that creates harmony across several parklet locations.

Can SelectSpace be permanently mounted?

Yes. SelectSpace includes knock-out holes when permanent attachment is appropriate.

Does using SelectSpace make a parklet accessible?

Accessibility depends on the complete parklet design—not one individual product. The platform transition, entrance, clear route, seating arrangement, gate location, and surrounding sidewalk must all follow applicable accessibility and municipal requirements.

Plan a More Flexible Parklet

A well-designed parklet should feel like part of the community, not an improvised extension of the curb. SelectSpace can help municipalities create spaces that look coordinated, support different activities, and adapt as downtown needs change.

Share the proposed dimensions, site photos, surface information, and local design requirements with SelectSpace to begin planning a parklet layout today.

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