In San Francisco, the Pavement to Parks
program has launched an initiative that may someday alter the way U.S. cities treat their commercial
strips.
Taking the PARK(ing) Day concept a step further, the Parklets Program is experimenting with allowing businesses
to convert parking spaces into public spaces and cafes. The
first was installed in March outside the Mojo Bicycle Cafe
on Divisadero Street, where two parking spaces were reallocated. Now cafe tables and chairs, benches, bike parking, and
plants sit on a raised platform over the asphalt. If all goes well through the evaluation period, the idea is to eventually implement a regular permitting process that business groups and communities
can apply for. It looks good: Owners of Mojo say business is up 30 percent
and they have had to hire more staff.
The Pavement to Parks program has already transformed a number of
community spaces in the Castro, Showplace Triangle and Guerrero Park.
