In San Francisco where parking is at a premium and quarters are chump change to bottomless parking meters, I was surprised to come across a "Public Parklet" occupying two whole parking spots on Post Street near Union Square. The sign notes that "all seating is open to the public."
The Parklet occupies valuable real estate in front of a tiny restaurant called Farm:Table.
Would this fly, even as a temporary installation, in St. Louis?
Nicki's Central West End Guide
an urban news journal
The “parklet” movement, which started in San Francisco and has spread to other US cities, has already reached Chicago where they are apparently called “peoples spots.” Backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, there’s one in the North Side Anderson neighborhood. A related movement is the Park(ing) Day, a worldwide event that transforms metered parking spots into temporary public parks for one day. By 2011, the movement encompassed over 160 cities in 35 countries on six continents…including St Louis where in September and spearheaded by Arcturis, the parking spaces along 8th Street between Pine and Olive were taken over for a variety of uses (I enjoyed playing bocce on a temporary court). In late August 2012, Trailnet hosted a meeting in The Grove on transforming parking spaces. Speakers included one of our own CWE aldermen, Joe Roddy, reps from Trailnet and Park Central Development and the owner of a local St Louis food truck. Finally, this Friday, 21 September, is this year’s (Park)ing Day and, in St Louis, it will take place on Cherokee Street where there will be three locations with activities and live music.
I vote, “yes”. Take out a parking spot(s), horrors! Or create a Chicane(s) along Euclid.
Imagine what this would look like in Chicago!