Klamath Falls, OR – May 18, 2021 – Blue Zones Project-Healthy Klamath has been working in collaboration with the City of Klamath Falls and S&S Manufacturing to produce the first pedlet, scheduled to be installed Tuesday, May 18 at Mermaid Garden Café.
In order to create infrastructure to foster increased walkability and social health in downtown Klamath Falls, Blue Zones Project applied for funding through the Klamath County Tourism grant and partnered with the City of Klamath Falls Parks Department. As one of the awarded projects, both agencies have been working with S & S Manufacturing to build a pedlet. A pedlet is designed similar to a boardwalk that connects to the sidewalk and provides a diversion around customers enjoying the outdoor space. Locally, the pedlet will serve as a seasonal structure that adds a thoroughfare for downtown pedestrian, to be extended around outdoor dining and retail spaces in front of businesses. Pedlets have been a unique way of expanding businesses without compromising ADA accessibility, sidewalk access, or the businesses being able to easily access customers. In recent years, other communities have implemented similar projects to help create more vibrant outdoor spaces and increase business for participating retailers and restaurants.
With collaboration from the City of Klamath Falls and Klamath Falls Downtown Association; the Blue Zones Project Built Environment Committee has been working to fund a pilot prototype pedlet that will be mobile, versatile, easy to assemble, store, and disassemble. In working with S&S Manufacturing a prototype has been constructed with an aluminum foundation and Trex decking to create a safe, durable structure. The structure is scheduled to be installed May 18th at Mermaid Garden Café. After extensive research and piqued interest from the beginning, Mermaid Garden Café was chosen as the pilot location due to their engagement and investment in the project. Since the first pedlet is a pilot project, the funding structure is different, to gauge interest and success of the prototype. After manufacturing, the pedlet will be the property of the City of Klamath Falls and will be a part of a pedlet/parklet Program they are developing. In the near future we hope to have additional pedlets installed at more businesses. If you are interested in learning more about pedlets and built environment, please reach out to Kelsey Mueller at bluezonesproject@healthyklamath.org or to learn more about the downtown pedlet/parklet program, Kristina Mainwaring at the City of Klamath Falls KMainwaring@klamathfalls.city
