Parklets Are Now Permanent, Supervisors Approve ‘Shared Spaces’ Forever

What we call ‘parklets’ are not really parklets, because San Francisco parklets existed long before COVID-19 way back in 2011. Those fabulous outdoor dining booths borne of the COVID era are technically called “Shared Spaces,” and they are now a permanent fixture of our streets and sidewalks. The Chronicle reports that the Board of Supervisors made the shared spaces parklets permanent in a unanimous Tuesday night vote.

I’m excited to see our Shared Spaces legislation pass unanimously at the Board, which means that the parklets and outdoor dining we’ve come to love will now continue permanently in San Francisco! pic.twitter.com/jNgeKLZW2V

— London Breed (@LondonBreed) July 14, 2021

“Shared Spaces brought back life and excitement to our neighborhoods during an incredibly challenging time,” Mayor Breed said in a statement picked up by KTVU after the vote. Breed had been pushing hard to make parklets permanent, and complained in May that the board would “butcher my legislation” if they added any extra rules. And they did add extra rules, but everyone  — especially bar and restaurant owners  — seems pretty happy with the outcome.

“I’m exuberant right now,” said Ben Bleiman, founder of the SF Bar Owner Alliance representing 475 bar owners in the city. “This is the biggest positive change for small businesses in my 20 years in San Francisco.” https://t.co/quEWa6izVy

— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) July 14, 2021

The extra rules added are pretty simple. The parklets’owners are now allowed to close them off to the public between Midnight and 7 a.m. “Requiring these to stay open overnight would render them unworkable for many of the small businesses that I represent,” District 6 supervisor Matt Haney said.

San Francisco’s parklets: Photos show some of the coolest outdoor dining setups now https://t.co/bHVdrSu1zg pic.twitter.com/RklquC1o6V

— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) June 26, 2021

District 9 supervisor Hillary Ronen disagreed. “We are giving up an extraordinary amount of public space to accommodate private businesses,” she said. “I believe that we should, but in exchange, I believe the public should have the most access to it as it possibly can.”

The always colorful Castro neighborhood was looking especially bright today. I hope that San Francisco keeps its outdoor dining, parklets and new murals long after the pandemic is over. #TotalSF pic.twitter.com/baPWpa8wmC

— Heather Knight (@hknightsf) September 2, 2020

But the legislation still passed. Business owners will be required to pay between $1,000 and $3,000 per parking space they take up, but that fee is waived for the next two years for locally-owned businesses. 

At least the Propane 🔥 business is 💪🏼, doing well…Can't get enough of them… Climate Change… Nah, these parklets are cold 🥶 in San Francisco 🌉 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/6QUL3gdu5c

— San Francisco Social Club (@SFSC415) May 7, 2021

And if you think you’re happy that the parklets are permanent, the propane tank salespeople are thrilled.