City wants to hear, fund neighborhoods’ ideas for parklets

After launching two successful parklets last year, Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities is taking submissions from neighborhoods for their own parklets.

As seen last year in some West Philadelphia neighborhoods, parklets are small sidewalk extensions that add passive recreation space to a street. The typically feature benches, tables, umbrellas and plants — like sidewalk cafes, but adjacent to the sidewalk and without the table service.

Community organizations have until May 4 to review and apply for a parklet through the Grant RFP that can help neighborhoods get as much as $5,000 from the city to install the temporary space.

The mini parks take up about two parking spaces each, must feature a vertical element like plants or umbrellas, allow for curbside drainage and be open to the public. Three rounds of installation are scheduled for June, July and August, and all parklets must be taken down by Oct. 22.

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