Parks & Environmental

Permanent parklets: Alexandria, Va., plans to keep pandemic pop-up parks

By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal

Alexandria, Va.’s, parklet program has proven so successful that the city has decided to keep it beyond the pandemic; however, it will charge restaurants a fee for the use of the street space. (Photo provided by the city of Alexandria)

Although they are not a new concept, parklets had a moment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some communities now plan to make them a permanent part of the streetscape: They have discovered that these public-seating platforms, converted curbside parking spaces that are now vibrant hubs, enhance the urban experience, encourage residents to slow down and connect, deter crime and attract business to area shops, restaurants and cafes.

Maximizing opportunities

According to Kelly Gilfillen CPM, acting director of the Office of Communications and Public Information for the city of Alexandria, Va., her city’s interest in parklets predates the pandemic.

City staff developed a two-year pilot program for parklets that was endorsed by the Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as the Traffic and Parking Board, in February 2020. The parklets in this initial program were not to be used for commercial purposes, but when indoor seating restrictions related to COVID-19 put a strain on businesses, the city acquiesced and allowed restaurants to use the parklets for outdoor dining.

“As businesses began to reopen to the public, they sought to maximize opportunities for outdoor dining and to expand their footprint because of the physical-distancing requirements set by the Virginia Department of Health,” she said. “Given the city’s earlier interest in parklets in general, both businesses and city leaders were interested in using this temporary program as a pilot.”

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding their inception, community response to the parklets has been overwhelmingly positive. In the fall of 2021, the city created a feedback form to gather input from residents, visitors and businesses about the program in order to make a recommendation for the parklets’ future: As it turned out, 92% of residents and visitors said they were more likely to patronize a restaurant with outdoor seating; 74% of residents and visitors, as well as 66% of businesses, wanted outdoor, in-street dining to continue.

“Qualitative feedback from business groups praised the added vibrancy and energy from having more people on city streets and included comments that parklets added visual interest and excitement

Alexandria, Va., will include modifications going forward with its parklet program, which will improve the safety of users. (Photo provided by the city of Alexandria) Diners at The Wharf in Alexandria, Va., enjoy parklet-style outdoor seating, which uses not only the sidewalk in front of the restaurant but also some street parking spaces. (Photo provided by the city of Alexandria)

to Alexandria—becoming an attraction for visitors,” Gilfillen said. “As social distancing requirements were phased out, the additional restaurant seats were lucrative options to aid business recovery, while ensuring that even as (COVID-19) case levels waned, risk-averse diners had the opportunity to eat outside.”

A new normal

Given the support for the program over the past two years by the city council, visitors and the community, city staff began developing a permanent program to address some of the concerns parklets garnered—including flooding, fire, traffic safety and accessibility. Last October, the Alexandria City Council approved a permanent parklet program that allowed for both public and commercial set ups. Gilfillen said the city is in a transition period as they phase out the pandemic program and phase in the permanent one.

The city council recently approved an extension of the temporary program through September. But beginning Oct. 1, all commercial parklets must adhere to the parklet requirements approved by the Traffic and Parking Board in November 2021.

“The city is concerned about traffic safety as traffic volumes continue to increase and is working with businesses to ensure that safety is a top priority,” Gilfillen said. “Several of the parklet requirements address traffic safety and require businesses to invest in reflective tape—among other visual cues for drivers—as well as locate future structures away from travel lanes and intersections.”

In addition to submitting to a public-notice-and-comment process to remove additional parking spaces and building a platform that is level with the curb, businesses that want to have commercial parklets will have to pay a fee for the use of municipal property. The city council approved fees of $75 per linear foot in downtown Alexandria, $25 per linear foot for businesses in designated Equity Emphasis Areas (as defined by the regional council of governments), and $50 per linear foot anywhere else in the city.

“If a business in downtown Alexandria builds a 20-foot-long parklet, it will cost them $1,500 for the annual permit starting in October,” Gilfillen said. “Not all of the current businesses are expected to continue hosting parklets; however, some new businesses are already interested due to the more permanent option.”

At least one business is frustrated with the new policy. Edrees Amarkhel, manager of the Il Porto Ristorante in Old Town, said that he already pays sales tax, meal tax and property taxes to the city and does not feel it is right to pay even more for a parklet. It’s a concern that Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson understands well.

“I have struggled with this,” he said during a March 9 city council legislative meeting. “We get 11% of anything that happens with these restaurant parklets to begin with, and we want to make sure that they are being used. From a principle perspective, this is a public space that is being given to a private business for the purpose of making money, but I don’t want to charge a dollar more than what would sustain the program.”