City of Oakland California

A Parklet is the temporary use of space in the dedicated public right-of-way (parking spaces, unused bus stops, and other types of vehicular and non-vehicular zones) for public uses such as seating or bicycle racks. Parklets will be publicly accessible space for the enjoyment and use of all Oakland citizens, and are privately constructed and maintained. It is envisioned that the Parklets will be located in areas with pedestrian activity, as additional seating areas for retail patrons, and in areas where there is a desire to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. 

Parklets are intended to be seen as pieces of street furniture, providing aesthetic enhancements to the overall streetscape. In place of car parking, a platform is built to extend the grade of the sidewalk into the street. Once the platform is installed, benches, tables, chairs, landscaping, and bike parking can all be placed on top in order to create a Parklet.  Parklets must remain publicly accessible and will require signage to this effect. Table service is not permitted, nor is commercial signage or advertising.  You do not need to be a customer to use a parklet - they are for everyone!

The Parklet Program is partly an outgrowth of the Park(ing) Day movement, an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks on September 21st.  To learn more about Park(ing) Day, visit their website at http://parkingday.org/ or the Oakland chapter at http://my.parkingday.org/group/oakland?.

Currently, the City has granted three parklet permits with three parklet permits still pending (including the public notice process). 

Parklets are now being installed throughout the City of Oakland!  To see a Google Map of the locations for current and upcoming parklets, please click here or click the map below.

View Map of Oakland Parklets in a larger map

Latham Square Plaza Pilot

• Upcoming Community Design Workshop (See flyer for workshop)

WHO:  You! All members of the community are welcome. No design experience needed!
WHEN:  Saturday, February 23, 2013, 12pm – 4pm.  Presentations from 12pm – 1:15pm, Drop-in workshops from 1:15pm – 4pm
WHERE:  Ground Floor, Cathedral Building @ Broadway and Telegraph Ave, Oakland
WHAT:  Join City of Oakland staff and Rebar for a creative community gathering to envision the Latham Square Plaza pilot.
 

For more information about the Latham Square Plaza pilot program visit the website at www.oaklandnet.com/lathamsquare.

40th Street Parklet open! On November 3rd, the 40th Street Parklet was opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony. It is sponsored by Manifesto Bicycles and Subrosa Coffee and located at 421 40th Street (near Webster Street).

Oakland's First Parklet is Here! On Friday, September 21, 2012, Oakland's first Parklet was inaugurated. The parklet is located at 33 Grand Avenue, in front of Farley's East, near Broadway.

Parklets in the News:

Official Press Release
Manifesto Bicycles, October 30
OAKLAND, CA -- Manifesto Bicycles and Subrosa Coffee will host a Ribbon Cutting Event celebrating the grand opening of the 40th Street Parklet on Saturday, November 3, from 2-5 p.m. ...

Official Press Release
City of Oakland, September 21
In honor of PARK(ing) Day, the City of Oakland held a press conference at the first Parklet completed through its Parklet pilot program. Mayor Jean Quan was joined by...

Slideshow: Oakland's pilot parklet debuts on Grand Avenue
Oakland Tribune, September 21
Patrons of Farley's East cafe utilize a parklet on Grand Avenue in Oakland on Friday...

Crowdsourcing works: Farley's campaign funds first city parklet
Oakland Local, September 21
Oakland's Grand Avenue is the first neighborhood to have a parklet, thanks to a campaign by Amy and Chris Hillyard, owners of popular coffee... 

Oakland celebrates its First Permanent Parklet With New Pilot Program
KCBS, September 22
Oakland celebrated International PARK(ing) Day on Friday by unveiling the first permanent public parklet in front of a café near Lake Merritt...

The Actual Cafe Parklet has received their final permit approval and is now awaiting construction.  Stay tuned for announcements when it is built and ready for use by the public.

Sponsor: Actual Café
Location: on Alcatraz Ave at 6334 San Pablo

Below are some images of existing Parklets in San Francisco.  As the City gives the final approval for our own Parklets, we will share photographs of Oakland's Parklets.

1.  How can I get a Parklet in front of my business?

The current round of parklet applications is closed.  However, pending the success of the first round of parklets, the City of Oakland will reopen the application process to solicit more parklet proposals.  Please stay tuned to this website for announcements about future Parklets.
 

2.  Why a Pilot Program?

Parklets can be an innovative way to improve the pedestrian experience of the City. We hope all residents will benefit from the creativity and initiative of private businesses and community groups in the creation of unique, attractive urban spaces. Parklets have been very successful in San Francisco. Since Parklets are new to Oakland, a pilot program will allow us to work out what is best for Oakland. There will be “before” and “after” surveys at the Parklet locations to gather data about the effects of Parklets. Parklet sponsors will be asked to participate in the survey.
 

3.  Why a Temporary Program?

A Parklet is a temporary structure and is not meant to be permanent. It needs to be movable, have access beneath for cleaning and for drainage and also to be re-movable. The initial permit will be for one year, with up to two annual renewals contingent upon the Permit Holder meeting its Maintenance Agreement. Parklet renewals will be charged an annual Renewal Fee. After three years, the Parklet permit may be rescinded and offered in another suitable location, in order to make this temporary street enhancement available throughout the City.
 

4.  How were the current Parklets chosen?

Planning staff evaluate the Parklet proposals based on the following criteria:

1) Good location – is the proposed Parklet likely to be well used and active
2) How it enhances the aesthetic quality of the streetscape
3) Demonstrated community support for public space at the proposed location (neighboring businesses and properties)
4) Evidence that the Parklet will be well-maintained