North Hempstead Restaurants Get Boost With New ‘Parklets’

NORTH HEMPSTEAD, NY — An expansion of the Town of North Hempstead's "Lift Up Local" program will help local restaurants offer more outdoor dining space as Nassau County follows New York State coronavirus reopening guidelines, officials announced Friday.

Town officials have expanded "Lift Up Local," an outdoor dining and business recovery initiative, to include a "parklet" program designed to further assist local restaurants and food service establishments.

A parklet is an extension of a sidewalk that can be used to create extra space and amenities for people using the street. The new initiative will allow participating restaurants to create parklets on the street in front of their businesses, which will permit the use of parking spaces adjacent to storefronts as outdoor dining areas. The program will also give restaurants the option to expand their outdoor dining service to the entire sidewalk, provided a safe and ramp-accessible pedestrian pathway is maintained within the parking lane. Parklet permits are available free of charge.

“Creating parklets will give our local restaurants and eateries additional space to accommodate more customers, which will be good for business,” Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. “The Town is always looking for new ways to help our residents dine local and support the businesses in our community.”

The Town, working with the Supervisor’s internal Business Recovery Response Workgroup, developed the parklet idea as another way to help businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Workgroup, which includes members of the Town Board, discusses ideas that are suggested by community organizations, businesses and individual residents with the goal of improving the quality of life for everyone in North Hempstead. The Workgroup also implemented the “Lift Up Local” initiative, which allows businesses the opportunity to close streets for outdoor dining and retail use, and provided outdoor dining tables in Town parks.

Businesses interested in creating a parklet can submit a permit application to the Town’s Building Department, which can be obtained by calling 311 or visiting the Town website.