Vernon has its first ever ‘parklet’ in the the downtown area.
The Arcadian Kitchen on 31st Street has received a city permit for a sidewalk extension to use a metered space on the road for a patio.
Co-owner Jessica Hultgren said she thinks it will have a positive impact.
“More people will wander down 31st Street and it will be more exposure for all the businesses on our street. I am hoping that more businesses look into this option, as I think being such a tourist destination in the summer it would liven up our downtown core and attract more people here,” said Hultgren.
The patio can stay up until October, at which time the pilot project will be evaluated.
The Downtown Vernon Association, which helped restaurant get the Boulevard Area Use Permit, hopes the parklet will help position downtown as a desirable place to visit and generate more activity.
“This is the Okanagan Valley. People choose to live and visit here largely because of the warm and sunny weather, and restaurants should capitalize on this by offering outdoor seating,” said DVA Events and Marketing Coordinator, Dudley Coulter.
Coulter also noted there are at least 11 outdoor patios within the downtown core.
“According to a 2017 UBCO study, parklets can also help in moving away from car-centric urban design to a more eco-friendly and vibrant downtown core,” added Coulter.
