Downtown West Palm Beach is getting a little more lively — one parking space at a time.
The city’s Parklet Grant Program is giving restaurants cash to turn parking spots into outdoor dining areas, adding energy (and seating) to the streets. Avocado Grill is the first to jump on board, transforming two parking spaces on Datura Street into a permanent tropical-style patio, complete with rattan chairs, a yellow roof, and plenty of shade.
The parklet trend isn’t entirely new. During the pandemic, the city loosened the rules to help restaurants create outdoor spaces. Now, with official city support through the Downtown Development Authority, the program is sticking around — and growing.
So far, Avocado Grill and Pistache French Bistro on Clematis Street have city-approved parklets, with more in the works. Restaurants pay for the parking spaces they use, but the DDA offers grants to help with construction costs.
The goal? More outdoor dining, more foot traffic, and a more welcoming downtown experience.
