A parklet – an underused public space or curbside parking space converted to a tiny park with greenery and seating – has worked very well in some places.
CityLab shares the results of the first in-depth research on parklet usage, conducted by Philadelphia’s neighborhood development nonprofit The University District. The study found that parklets work best when adjacent businesses have large windows and modest interior seating capacity.
Business owners reported a 20 percent increase in sales in the two weeks following a parklet installation, the report notes.