Dine in the District

The Dine in the District Economic Development Recovery Program creates an addendum to the city’s Sidewalk Café Permit program, allowing qualifying restaurants within the Central Business District to establish a temporary parklet through converting an on-street parking space or spaces to a protected seating area for dining customers. 

Parklet

Parklet Location Map

Due to restrictions put in place by executive order of Oregon Governor Kate Brown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, restaurants have had to change their operational model. As restrictions loosen, restaurants continue to be impacted by a required 50 percent or more reduction to their dine-in capacity.

City Municipal Code (Chapter 6.47) has a sidewalk café permit provision that allows outside dining in the public right-of-way adjacent to a restaurant’s frontage.

The creation of a parklet (converting an on-street parking to a protected seating area) will allow more space for the restaurant to operate. Cement barriers will be placed around a parking space or spaces that are in front of, or adjacent to the restaurant. The city will provide and place the barriers and assist with promoting the program.

It is the intent of the city to assist and support the small businesses impacted by the current pandemic and to help them recover, flourish, and remain in Grants Pass. By offering this unique Dine in the District Parklet Program, the city is recognizing the importance of our small businesses and their impact to the stability and vitality of our community.

Requirements

Restaurants seeking to create a Dine in the District Parklet must have an approved Sidewalk Café Permit, valid OLCC Sidewalk Café Liquor Sales Permit, and completed Sidewalk Café Parklet Addendum.

The Dine in the District Parklet Program is a temporary pilot program for a 90-day period beginning June 18. The program will be evaluated each 30 days to assess its implementation and use.

Additional Information:

Business Advocate Susan Seereiter
sseereiter@grantspassoregon.gov
(541) 450-6014