In 2021 the City of College Park, GA installed what was and still is the longest parklet in the country. At almost 90’ long and 8’ wide, it occupies the space normally taken up by seven car parking spaces. Funded with a combination of public and private funds, with College Park Main Street Association donating $15,000 and the City adding $25,000 raised from the community. The culmination of these efforts enabled the installation of the record-breaking structure.

The College Park Parklet, began as summer pilot program to reactivate and reignite Mainstreet after 2020 Covid restrictions. Local eateries needed help getting back on their feet and additional space to support patrons. People had been stuck at home and the city wanted to boost morale by getting the community outside. A new parklet, built over the existing parking spaces, would:

1. Expand sidewalk space for outdoor dining and provide additional seating without damaging existing property.  
2. Add vibrancy and create a welcoming environment with decorative lights and greenery.
3. Act as a buffer for speeders on the thoroughfare and draw outside interest to the city.  

Grace Lunsford, former board chair of CPMSA, spearheaded the parklet design. Inspired by her time in Chicago, Grace wanted to bring 'no-curb' street dining to the Georgia region. With the intention that the parklet would become a permanent fixture for the community, CPMSA approached StreetDeck to design a parklet covering seven diagonal parking spaces, measuring 8 by 90 feet.  

We delivered a custom, 8 by 86 foot ‘continuous platform with a robust a galvanized steel frame, planters, pedestals, and floating porcelain pavers. Porcelain was chosen over wood for added durability, stain proofing, and slip resistance.  

The installation spans three retail businesses adjacent to the sidewalk – The Real Milk and Honey, Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen, and Bar and Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles. Bright, color-coded chairs and tables add a nice pop of color to the area with unique colors chosen for each restaurants’ dining area.

“It has definitely helped business,” said Jared Gonzalez, the kitchen manager of Johny’s Chicken and Waffles, one of the participating restaurants. “From what we have seen so far, we really liked it. We really appreciate it, that the city is letting us do it.” 

College Park chose Bluestone as the primary flooring color, part of Archatrak’s signature Stonetek Porcelain Paver Collection, which was a nice complement to the already existing sidewalk aesthetic. We believe parklets should enhance areas, not stick out and dominate them. Horizontal rails in powder coated with a ‘Crinkle Black’ finish balanced and tied the structure together with a sophisticated touch. Large planters, placed at 8 feet increments, cordoned off the parklet from the street, and were fitted with faux grass, moss, willow branches, and solar lights. Reflective stanchions were placed around the street perimeter to re-route the sidewalk traffic and protect pedestrians from vehicles.  

Local business was immediately boosted! It’s one thing to say you want to increase vibrancy and boost business, but you have to do more than add flowers and signage to area, you need to give people a reason to stay. The College Park parklet did just that – it gave people reason to come together, patronize local businesses, and stay.  

While StreetDeck parklets can be disassembled easily for seasonal storage, the College Park installation has become a permanent year-round fixture. The parklet has remained a neighborhood hang and bright accent to Mainstreet!

We love parklets and how they revitalize neighborhoods, streets, and communities. While it’s not quite as simple as ‘If you build it, they will come’,  it is a good first step. If you want to add vibrancy to someplace, you need people – and if you want people to stay and enjoy an area, you have to give them a reason.  

If you’d like to learn more about how a StreetDeck parklet can add vibrancy and sidewalk seating to your community, reach out to one of our experts today. Our team is friendly and can help answer any questions you might have about StreetDeck or parklets in general.