Once guerrilla-style provocations, parklets have grown into staples of urban life—small but powerful interventions that reimagine how our streets can serve people first. This week, San Francisco, the birthplace of the parklet movement, will host the International Parklet Symposium, California from April 10–12.

Co-hosted by the Center for Architecture + Design and SPUR (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association), the three-day event brings together architects, planners, policymakers, and community leaders from across North America—including Mexico and Canada—to explore the next era of public space innovation.

“Parklets were once a novel idea,” said Robin Abad Ocubillo, Symposium Co-Chair and former leader of San Francisco’s Parklet Program. “Now they’re a common part of the urban vernacular—delivering economic, social, environmental, and psychological benefits to communities.”

The symposium features presentations, case studies, panel discussions, and tours highlighting how tactical urbanism can reshape cities for equity, resilience, and joy. From pedestrian plazas to night markets, these flexible public spaces are proving vital not only for small businesses and residents—but for fostering civic connection.

“Parklets help bring people together,” said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, whose district includes popular open street events like the Castro Art Mart. “For over a decade, they’ve been essential to our neighborhoods.”

As cities face climate, equity, and health challenges, the symposium asks a vital question: what’s next for our streets? And San Francisco—where it all began—is once again leading the way.