The city recently created a parklet permit process designed to help local businesses replace street parking with interactive public spaces.
Nashville, Tennessee debuted its first parklet on Parking Day last weekend, unveiling the city’s first effort at converting on-street parking spots to park space and joining a movement that took off during the Covid-19 pandemic, reports Diana Leyva in the Nashville Tennessean.
“For a decade, the Civic Design Center, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit has celebrated Parking Day with temporary parklets. The permits were available temporarily as a pilot program under many different iterations over the years, first as a dumpster permit through Public Works and then through a Sidewalk Cafe Permit, said Civic Design Center Communications and Advocacy Manager, Veronica Foster.”
After legislation legalizing parklets in the city was passed in 2022, the Nashville Department of Transportation developed a permit process and manual for creating new parklets. “As a way to encourage businesses and local organizations to apply for the parklet permit, the Civic Design Center together with NDOT used Parking Day as an opportunity to showcase how effective and beneficial the mini parks can be for communities.”
Read the full story: East Nashville debuts city's first 'parklet': What is it and are more coming?
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