Flowers are not the only things popping up in downtown Longmont, parklets have returned to Main Street.
On Tuesday, crews spent a portion of the day installing parklets along Main Street. Parklets began as extensions for downtown businesses during COVID when customers could not go into stores.
In the first year, the entire length of the parking lane and the right lanes along Main Street from Third to Sixth avenues was blocked off with concrete barricades. The spaces were filled with tables, bike racks and more.
Last year the area was reduced and parklets were introduced. Some businesses decided against using the extended space, while others struggled with how best to use them.
This year, according to Kimberlee McKee, executive director of the Longmont Downtown Development Authority, or LDDA, only 12 parking spaces outside a total of seven businesses will be filled with parklets.
“Some parklets weren’t used last year, so those will not be placed again,” McKee said adding some businesses struggled with staffing and equipment, preventing them from using the space well.
This year the LDDA board asked downtown businesses that wanted to utilize the parklet space to have a clear plan in place, McKee said.
The parklets will remain in parking spaces along Main Street until October.
