2013
INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE
ABOUT PAVEMENT TO PARKSParklets
Program Overview
San Francisco's Pavement to Parks Program facilitates the conversion of utilitarian and often underused spaces in the street into publicly accessible open spaces available for all to enjoy. The Parklet Program provides a path for merchants, community organizations, business owners, and residents to take individual actions in the development and beautification of the City's public realm.
A parklet repurposes part of the street into a space for people. Parklets are intended as aesthetic enhancements to the streetscape, providing an economical solution to the need for increased public open space. They provide amenities like seating, planting, bike parking, and art. While parklets are funded and maintained by neighboring businesses, residents, and community organizations, they are publicly accessible and open to all.
The world's first formal public parklets were initially conceived and installed in San Francisco in 2010. As of January 2013, thirty-eight parklets have been installed throughout San Francisco, and the program is being emulated in cities around the world.
Parklets enhance our neighborhoods by adding beauty and whimsy to the City's streets. They reflect the diversity and creativity of the people and organizations who sponsor and design them. They also reflect the City's commitment to encouraging walking and biking, creating great streets, and strengthening our communities.
Program Goals
Reimagine the potential of city streets.
Public rights-of-ways make up approximately 25 percent of the City's land area. Parklets promote a low-cost, easily implementable approach to public space improvement through projects that energize and reinvent the public realm. They help address the desire and need for increased public open space and wider sidewalks.
Encourage non-motorized transportation.
Parklets encourage walking by providing pedestrian amenities like street furniture, landscaping and public art. Parklets often provide bicycle parking and thus increase the visibility of bicycling in San Francisco.
Encourage pedestrian activity.
Parklets provide pocket spaces for pedestrians to sit and relax, while also improving walkability.
Support local businesses.
Parklets attract attention to businesses and provide additional seating that can be used by cafe customers and others. A parklet also beautifies the street and creates a neighborhood destination.
Parklet Manual
The San Francisco Parklet Manual is a comprehensive overview of the goals, policies, process, procedures and guidelines for creating a parklet in San Francisco. The Manual also serves as a resource for those outside of San Francisco working to establish parklet programs in their own cities.
Applicants and designers in San Francisco are strongly encouraged to read the Parklet Manual in its entirety when they are first thinking about proposing a parklet, and to refer to it often throughout the process. Understanding what the program is trying to achieve and the process and regulations for a successful parklet may reduce the time it takes to receive a permit, and will likely result in a superior parklet design.
Download: Download the full Parklet Manual [version 1.0 PDF 16 MB]
The Parklet-O-Matic (Infographic)
The Parklet-O-Matic [PDF 3MB] is a graphic representation of the parklet permitting process.
Policy Framework
DPW Director's Order 180,921
This Department of Public Works Director's Order establishes guidelines for the approval and installation of parklets ("Temporary Sidewalk Extensions") for use by the general public, "providing an economical solution to the desire and need for wider sidewalks... where existing narrow sidewalks would preclude such occupancy."
Accessibility Elements for Parklets
The City and County of San Francisco seeks to make its public realm accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. These guidelines were developed especially for parklets by the Mayor's Office of Disability to ensure that parklets conform to the applicable provisions, rules, regulations and guidelines of the: San Francisco Building Code (SFBC), Americans with Disabilities Act 2010 Standard's accessibility requirements (ADAAG), and other design criteria included in DPW Order No. 180,921.
