Opinion: Parklets a fun idea- but are they practical?

Tutanekai St cafe's expanded seating area. Photo/Stephen Parker

Not to be confused with a pikelet, Rotorua now has its very first parklet.

That's the name the Rotorua Lakes Council is giving to the new outdoor seating space created outside Tutanekai St's Artisan Cafe.

Apparently they are common around the world - although while I have sat outside many a bar and cafe on my travels, I must confess to never having heard the term before.

This parklet consists of a few plants and some strips of astro turf laid over what had previously been three carparks on what is probably the CBD's busiest street. Presumably there will be tables and chairs there too.

I am all up for al fresco dining, people watching and creating a buzz in the inner city. It's also great to see efforts being made to attract people to the establishments outside Eat Streat.

But I also have sympathy for the dairy and bakery owners in today's story. The nature of their businesses mean people want to park right outside, dash in, grab a pie or a newspaper, and get on their way.

If they can't get a park outside - or at least very close - they may just keep driving to the next dairy on their route. It's about convenience, or laziness. Either way, I think the businesses have a point.

Artisan may prove to be the envy of other establishments this summer and I wouldn't be surprised to see a rush of others - especially those with limited outdoor space - putting their hands up to join the parklet movement.

How the council manages that demand will be interesting. After all, there must be a limit to the number of carparks that can be commandeered.