Riga: Standardised parklets to create green street oases
The Challenge
The city centre of Riga lacked greenery and appealing public space, causing streets to be deserted places used only for parked cars, which provided very few opportunities for people to stop and enjoy city life. Breaking the habit of drivers occupying public space with private cars was a difficult challenge in Riga.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the food service industry hard, as government restrictions only allowed outdoor seating. One solution adopted in many cities was to allow the installation of temporary restaurant terraces, but narrow sidewalks and bureaucratic appro
The Solution
Designing standardised parklets to help businesses reclaim public space.
As a step in a new direction, Riga Municipality created a catalogue with standardised parklet designs to support local businesses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in reclaiming public space from cars and to simplify the approval process for their installation.
Making an impact
In summer 2022, parklets were set up in several streets in the city centre to create green oases for residents to stop and enjoy a peaceful moment in their busy city lives, and over one third of all the outside cafés set up that summer used a standardised design from the catalogue. New designs continue to be added to the catalogue, which the municipality itself uses to reclaim public space from cars.
Lessons learnt
Providing small green public spaces between parking spots and evening out the space for pedestrians and cars, the parklets proved themselves to be a cost-efficient alternative for local businesses to provide space for customers, while helping communicate the wishes of citizens for a different streetscape.