What’s a parklet?

It’s the summer of The Philadelphia Citizen for me! The pandemic changes our lives in multiple ways, including the ways we interact with outdoor space and each other. In Philadelphia, dozens of newly licensed “streeteries” have brought dining outside. There’s also a push for more parklets, mini parks that can replace parking spots or empty right of way space. Learn more about these reimagined spaces in The Philadelphia Citizen.

Why should Philly care about parklets? As our city continues to struggle to fill office buildings and retail spaces, as our country continues to hide behind screens to wage political and personal battles, parklets encourage people to linger outside, take a load off, patronize the businesses around them, and have civil, in-person interactions with strangers. Civil conversations, even.