Expanded outdoor dining comes to an end for St. Pete
October 18, 2021 - St. Petersburg’s expanded outdoor seating areas are coming to an end today as the city removes concrete barriers and fences that permitted outdoor seating in parking spaces. The parklet program was created in response to the Covid pandemic and was meant to be a temporary solution. Reactions to the end of the program have been mixed, with some business owners welcoming the additional parking and others disappointed with the loss of outdoor seating. The city has expressed a willingness to find a more permanent solution moving forward, which would require a change in zoning law.