Temecula staff outline movable ‘parklet’ options for Old Town; committee asks for sensor data before decisions

City staff laid out a tentative parklet program for Old Town that would convert one or more street parking spaces into movable sidewalk amenities for seating, dining and bike parking, then asked the committee for feedback on design and siting.

"What is a parklet? A parklet is a sidewalk extension that converts one or more street parking spaces into a public amenity," Mark Collins said, describing LR22‑1112. Consultants PlaceWorks and Studio 111 developed design options derived from a public workshop, emphasizing materials that complement Old Town’s historic character and movable 'kits of parts' that can be removed for events and maintenance.

Potential locations included an area by Penny Pickles to activate Main Street and the Creek Trail, a spot near the 6th Street lot and the end of 4th Street adjacent to the Creek Trail; staff said the Frog parking sensor data will guide site selection to minimize impacts on available parking.

Committee members expressed worry about losing parking spaces and about parklets becoming overnight resting places. "Sometimes unhoused people will use it as a bed," one member said; staff replied they will consider design choices to discourage overnight use and will tailor features accordingly.

Members also noted mixed business owner feedback from workshops — some favor parklets in front of their businesses, others oppose them — and asked staff to coordinate outreach with the Old Town Temecula Association and to wait for parking sensor analysis before finalizing locations.

Staff said they will return with site selections and design details once Frog phase‑2 data are available.