Temporary Parklet Program Extended In Los Gatos Through January

LOS GATOS, CA — The Los Gatos town council voted Tuesday to extend the town’s temporary parklet program through January 2022 and approved the allocation of $680,000 in American Rescue Plan Funds for a grant program to help subsidize semi-permanent parklets for businesses.

The parklet program, implemented during COVID-19 to give restaurants more room to host outdoor dining, was set to expire in September.

“This extension allows for restaurants to maintain their current seating and staffing levels for the time being and offers some business security through the busy holiday season should health orders return to limiting or prohibiting indoor dining,” town staff wrote in the agenda report.

However, the council confirmed that vertical barriers, temporary tents and other weather protection structures must be removed because they “decrease the visibility of other store fronts” in the town, according to the staff report.

“Staff has received numerous complaints from retailers that customers are unable to find their location or see their signs due to the obstructions coming from the tent structures,” the report stated.

The town is planning to implement a semi-permanent parklet program after the temporary program expires. The program is expected to be in place for the next seven to 10 years, and would maintain the “alfresco” dining experience in downtown Los Gatos while a broader downtown redesign is considered, according to town staff.