City of Tucson working to streamline process for transforming parking spaces

The COVID-19 Temporary Expansion of Restaurant Seating initiative has allowed businesses to use City-owned property to operate their businesses as part of an emergency response to the pandemic. If you've been in the downtown area over the past year, you've seen this in action at destinations like Penca, Empire Pizza, and Batch, where on street parking spaces have been transformed to provide additional seating/dining area, or provide space for movement of people around expanded dining on the sidewalk.

As the pandemic evolves, and the emergency provisions ease, the City of Tucson is considering how to make this shared use of public space an ongoing program. Even better, they're exploring uses outside of just dining; they're looking to formally create a process for establishing parklets as well as pop-up (short-term) transformations of public street space. (As you might recall, we started a movement for Tucson's First Parklet many years ago, so we're excited to see this gaining traction!)

To get started, the City is hoping to hear from you—the community—and there are two opportunities coming up to learn more and weigh in. Visit the City’s Shared Spaces web page for more information about the initiative and to join an info session on Wednesday, May 26th. We also invite you to join us at a pop-up parklet community outreach event happening May 28th and 29th. (Visit our Events section for details and location.)