Although we’re seeing a little setback with the weather, here’s some great news: University City District began re-installing “parklets” (outdoor seating platforms), throughout the neighborhood. Yesterday, the UCD installed two of them – one by the Green Line Cafe on Baltimore Ave and another one by Little Baby’s Ice Cream in Cedar Park:
Today UCD crews installed 43rd St. (@GreenLineCafe) & 49th St.(@LittleBabysIC) Parklets! Enjoy them #UCDPARKLETS pic.twitter.com/QhGG7K4Hhd
— University City (@ucdphl) April 14, 2014
Overall, five parklets will be installed in the neighborhood, all near trendy local shops, cafes and restaurants (though, like parks, they are public spaces so you don’t have to buy anything to sit in them):
Parklet by Fu-Wah Market on S. 47th St. (archived photo).
• 4040 Locust St (hosted by Ramen Bar)
• 261 S. 44th St (hosted by Honest Tom’s Tacos and Lil’ Pop Shop)
• 4239 Baltimore Ave (hosted by Green Line Cafe)
• 810 S. 47th St (hosted by Fu-Wah Market)
• 4903 Catharine St (hosted by Little Baby’s Ice Cream and Hibiscus Cafe)
The city’s first parklet was installed on 43rd Street near Green Line Cafe in the summer of 2011. Parklets, which are a wood and metal platform with tables, chairs and planter boxes, usually pop up in April and remain through October or until the cold weather sets in. Although enjoyed by many, parklets have also received some criticism, since they take up parking spots, which are hard to find in our area.
April 17th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
I’ve admired this idea since it’s inception. It brings another level of warmth and familiarity to our already great neighborhood.
May 11th, 2014 at 7:05 am
I guess I’ll go ahead and age myself by stating that “when I was a kid” – AND BELIEVE ME THIS IS NOT AS LONG AGO AS YOU WILL THINK – April was NOT exactly Spring around the Philly-NYC area! I guess I’m one of the few remaining that hasn’t gotten “more conservative with age” and has fallen for the STUPIDITIES being drained into the minds by THOSE fools who will do ANYthing to continue the conquest of their philosophical forebearer ROBBER BARONS…..