The city of Waco unveiled its first parklet — a micro-park used as patio space — at Be Kind Coffee on Saturday. The Washington Avenue installation is the first of its kind in the city.
The parklet temporarily converts one parallel parking space into outdoor seating for the coffee shop.
It is the first project completed under the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Six-to-Fix initiative, which targets six high-risk roads and intersections with low-cost safety improvements.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor Jim Holmes said the parklet represents a shift in how the city views its streets.
“They can be places that support local businesses, encourage people to spend time together and make it safer, more comfortable for everyone,” Holmes said.
The parklet will remain on Washington Avenue temporarily. If it proves successful in fostering community use and slowing traffic, city officials say it could become permanent, with additional parklets added elsewhere in Waco.
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