How-To Guide:
Public Parklets
A parklet is a public space created in an on-street parking space that may feature benches, tables, chairs, planters, and landscaping, shade, and bicycle parking. Parklets are installations that can be in place for a period ranging from several hours to several years.
Parklets offer numerous community benefits, including:
Increasing public space – Parklets provide a place for people to sit, relax, and enjoy. They also offer more space for people to walk where sidewalks are narrow or congested.
Support local business – Parklets are unique public spaces that provide seating space for nearby business uses and attract potential customers.
Foster social life – Parklets enhance our communities by creating welcoming spaces for people to meet old friends and make new ones.
Multi-use dynamic spaces – Parklets can serve as flexible spaces for a variety of activities.
Eligibility:
Not all on-street parking stalls are suitable for a parklet. Parklets work best at locations with some pre-existing pedestrian activity, such as business and commercial districts. Food service, retail, transit facilities, and cultural institutions are great elements to consider for a parklet site.
Examples of applicants include business improvement districts, chambers of commerce, storefront business owners, property owners, nonprofit institutions, community organizations, and schools.
Key Steps:
Identify an eligible and appropriate parklet location
Engage nearby businesses and build community support
Generate parklet design options and take photos of the proposed site
Send the proposed location to the City’s Complete Streets Administrator for preliminary approval
Present to the relevant neighborhood board
Submit a parklet application to the City’s Complete Streets Administrator
Upon approval, proceed with parklet construction/installation
Receive a Street Usage Permit through the Department of Transportation Services
Administer a before/after the survey
Design and Management Considerations:
Parklets should…
Remain free and open to the public. Advertising, table service, and other commercial activities are not permitted.
Be welcoming and encourage passersby to interact.
Be able to withstand daily outdoor use and normal weather conditions.
Not inhibit vehicular, pedestrian, or bicycle travel.
Be easy to install and remove if necessary.
Develop a maintenance plan to maintain cleanliness and structural integrity
For more details regarding design requirements, refer to the Honolulu Parklet Program Guide for parklet installation on the City and County of Honolulu roadway.
Costs and Needed Resources:
For a custom-designed and built parklet, costs can range between $10,000 and $20,000, which include:
Time of applicant to undertake needed research, outreach, and approval, and permitting
Parklet design, construction, and installation
Art supplies (paint, brushes, drop cloth, etc.)
Safety supplies (traffic cones, traffic safety vests, etc.)
Artist fees to design and implement parklet murals
Project documentation (photo/videography)
