State Street, Downtown Newburyport Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — With warmer weather just around the corner, an outdoor dining program in Newburyport may be on its way out the door.
Ward 2 City Councilor Jennie Donahue thinks the city's parklet program may be on borrowed time.
Parklets are small wooden risers that some downtown restaurants use to serve customers outdoors. The program began in 2020 during the pandemic, as a way for restaurant owners to attract more business and provide seating for
The patios became more permanent in 2021, and over the next few years, a fee schedule was established by the city to help support the program.
But now, Donahue is questioning whether those fees are enough, and whether the parklets are worth keeping at all. "If we want to continue the program, we essentially are going to wind up having to replace all of those parklets," Donahue said. She said that cost is a key issue. "If it comes down to having the city fund this program in a way that takes money out of our coffers from taxpayers, it's not going to fly," she said.
She said the parklets take up valuable public space in the street and get in the way of pedestrians.
But supporters say the patios help enhance a bustling downtown during the summer months, generating revenue for restaurant owners and, by sales tax, for the city.
Loretta owner Ted Epstein said he believes the amount of parking spots taken up by parklets is minimal. "We are taking up some parking spaces, but I think it's less than 20 spaces," he said. He said he hasn't heard any complaints from residents that the parklets are taking up too much space, and that he might be willing to shoulder the cost of the patios if the city would sit down with him and other owners and talk about it.
The owner of Angie's Food and Diner, Steve Luz, said parklets have been a life-saver since the pandemic. "To take it away would be very devastating," he said.
Other restaurant owners were so alarmed by the idea that they've started a social media campaign, calling on residents to email the city council to keep the parklets going.
The program is expected to remain in place for at least this season, and likely next summer too.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.