A Parklet Grows in Lexington

Travel down Mass Ave in Lexington Center and it’s impossible to miss it. The umbrellas, the planters, the guardrails, tables and bike corrals – any one of them alone could be eye-catching, but together they form a “parklet.”
 
It’s a semi-permanent structure that essentially extends the sidewalk into two parking spaces in front of 1720 Mass Ave and fills the space with public seating and bike corrals, where pedestrians, bicyclists, shoppers and snackers can stop and relax.

After the success of bike corrals set up in front of Ride Studio Café last year, Lexington’s Economic Development and Planning departments partnered with local businesses to create the removable structure, believed to be the first parklet in Massachusetts.

“The goals of the parklet partnership are to create fresh interest in the center, enhance commerce, as well as encourage alternative modes of transportation through improved accommodations,” Melisa Tintocalis, the town’s economic development director, said in a press release. “It offers a safer and highly visible new public space.”
 
In the place of parking spaces for two cars, the parklet will offer seating for a dozen people and parking for about 20 bicycles. A seasonal amenity, the parklet will be open to the public through November 1.

There will be a grand opening of the public parklet at 9 a.m. tomorrow, June 28. But the pieces have come together over the past few weeks, and the parklet has already gotten some use and enthusiastic reception.
 
Patrons of Ride Studio Café and pedestrians alike have already begun to enjoy the space as it offers both a place to sit outside and an alternative to parking bikes on the sidewalk, according to Patria Lanfranchi, the bike and coffee shop’s co-owner and curator.

“It creates quite a buzz here, happy noises on the street of people enjoying each other’s company, food, drink, coffee, sandwiches you name it,” Lanfranchi said. “It’s naturally a good fit with our business, and also all of the businesses on this side of the road—there’s frozen yogurt and sandwiches—where the businesses can definitely benefit from people being able to frequent their business and sit outside and enjoy their food, so it’s great for people and businesses alike.”