Betty Reid | The Republic
Phoenix sees potential areas for parklets in downtown and on Grand Avenue. Phoenix Planning and Development Department officials plan to create a policy, which the council will consider this fall. Officials have looked to other cities to determine best practices.
Most of them have public seating. Maybe some greenery. Some even have fountains or public art.
But they’re not full-blown parks. The city doesn’t necessarily own them. Or build them. Or regulate them (at least not yet).
They’re called “parklets” — and they’re a growing trend in several large U.S. cities. A few have popped up in Phoenix.
And like most new trends, now the city has to figure out how to handle them, especially because planning officials see potential for other parklets downtown and along Grand Avenue.