Park(ing) Day changed everything for this struggling downtown

Leaders in Lafayette, Louisiana had been trying for years to bring more energy into their downtown. Outdoor dining was supposed to be part of that strategy, but it never got off the ground. Most sidewalks were too narrow to accommodate dining areas, if they existed at all. So while outdoor dining was technically legal, it was practically impossible.

Related: Can a walk about nothing inspire Apopkans to increase their public engagement?

To break the impasse, the city hosted a Park(ing) Day event. It installed 16 temporary parklets throughout the downtown, including a few outdoor dining areas. “People enjoyed the experience, and it allowed downtown business owners and stakeholders to experience the change in a temporary way,” explained Carlee Alm-LaBar, Lafayette’s planning director at the time.

That experience mattered. Less than a year later, the city passed an ordinance allowing for parklets and outdoor dining to be built in former parking spots.

The results are striking. Just last month, Lafayette was ranked #6 in the country for outdoor dining — a recognition that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.

Lafayette proves that Park(ing) Day isn’t just about reimagining public space for one afternoon. It can influence policy in lasting ways.

Could this work in Apopka?

Yes — but it would take creativity and community buy-in. Apopka’s downtown is undergoing change, yet many sidewalks remain narrow and not well-suited for outdoor dining. A Park(ing) Day event could provide a low-cost, low-risk way to test parklets in select areas, giving restaurants a chance to expand into parking stalls and residents an opportunity to imagine a more vibrant downtown. If successful, the city could follow Lafayette’s lead by crafting policies that support permanent outdoor dining and creative public spaces, helping to activate Apopka’s core and attract more foot traffic to local businesses. Imagine Fifth Street with parklets.