Parklets – What are they good for? Absolutely nothing

So last weekend, on top of broadcasting the Sounders match (we won, by the way!), I saw a lot of movies: four, in fact, at the Seattle International Film Festival (a KIRO sponsor).

And three of those movies were at the SIFF Uptown theater in Queen Anne, right by the Seattle Center. As I was driving around the block 15 times looking for a parking spot, I totally forgot that the city of Seattle installed a parklet there a couple of months ago or so.

A lil parklet – and it’s so, so, so tiny. It’s actually a parklet of a parklet. It’s a mini-parklet. It’s just about the size of a … parking spot. Now, I’ve been very critical of parklets. It seems like a bad idea to have a permanent parklet in the place of a parking spot or even bus stop when it rains nine months out of the year. In fact, I liked the idea – and support the idea – of making these portable so you can get them up in July for three months, then take them down for the rest of the year.

But this was the first time I got to spend any real time with one.

And it dawned on me, as I looked at this pristine ‘lil parklet in the middle of such a busy street in Queen Anne, that they’re good for absolutely nothing.

LISTEN: “Parklets (What Are They Good For?)” parody

They’re utterly useless. I’m there on a beautiful Sunday – sun is out, cool breeze – and half the time it was almost completely empty; it’s not even that big.

It’s right across the street from a Dick’s Drive-In, from a Pagliacci Pizza, and a couple coffee shops – and it was nearly empty.

I am a near-empty parklet. Please sit with me to justify my existence. (Photo: Jason Rantz)

At only one point over the two days did I see people using it in any meaningful way and it was mostly SIFF volunteers on breaks. Someone set up shop that looked like a business promotion (not sure if it was with SIFF or not). That’s pretty much it.

I got a chance to sit down and just check it out and though this isn’t the fault of Seattle or SDOT, they’re just uncomfortable. That’s because the parklets use outdoor, metal furniture so nine months of rain doesn’t lead to deterioration.

There’s another parklet space just a block away and if no one uses that, certainly no will use this spot outside SIFF.

It’s easy to figure out why: not only is it uncomfortable, but it’s on a busy street so even on a nice day, you end up breathing a bunch of car exhaust from the Honda that’s idling at the red light to your left.

SERIOUSLY, LISTEN, WE SPENT TIME ON THIS: “Parklets (What Are They Good For?)” parody

This was the perfect example of a day where you’d think people would be out in full force enjoying the parklet, but they weren’t. I asked our followers on Facebook about parklets and their experiences, and the feedback was pretty consistent:

-Andy: I drive by a few on 2nd Ave. 2-3 times a week, and I’ve only seen homeless or drug dealers use them.

-Gene: I’ve only seen transients in them. Who the devil wants to sit there and suck in Metro bus fumes?

Yeah: I’d rather have the parking space back.