Pacific Grove moves quickly to replace three parklets with sidewalk dining.

Four years ago, Liz and Kelvin Jacobs of Wild Fish restaurant in Pacific Grove were leaders in the early days of the pandemic, investing $50,000 in construction of a sturdy parklet with wind protection and heaters for chilly days, built atop parking spaces in front of their Lighthouse Avenue restaurant. With the addition of a jazz quartet on weekends, the restaurant became a popular Peninsula dining destination.

Now Wild Fish and its two neighbors, Rudolfo’s and Victorian Corner, are in the lead again, but not of their own accord, and in the case of the Jacobs, against their will. Their parklets are slated to be torn down on Monday, Nov. 25, to be replaced by an extended sidewalk – from 16 to 25 feet wide – with black metal fencing to contain outdoor dining areas, at a cost to the city of more than $333,000.

It’s the first project of its type in P.G., with a plan to eventually replace other parklets in town with extended sidewalks and fencing in front of restaurants. Restaurant owners will be required to pay for a city permit and would be responsible for outfitting their space with amenities like umbrellas, awnings, wind protection and heaters. (Parklets currently require an annual encroachment permit.)

The sidewalk extension project began on Nov. 11, with a sidewalk curb extension, or bulb-out, on the southeast corner of Lighthouse and Fountain, in front of Lighthouse Cinema. A matching bulb-out will be installed on the southwest corner after the parklets are dismantled. According to a city staff analysis, corner bulb-outs create a shorter distance for pedestrians to cross and create better visibility for drivers and pedestrians.

The move to replace parklets with sidewalk outdoor dining came out of an initial drive by some town leaders to eliminate parklets, despite overwhelming public support. Opponents cited loss of downtown parking spaces, traffic and pedestrian safety, aesthetics, ADA access, and other issues. Onerous regulations recommended by the P.G. Planning Commission were met with public outcry and rejected by the P.G. City Council in 2022.

In 2023, a P.G. City Council parklets subcommittee charged with reviewing guidelines and design standards for all parklets instead took a hard turn in the name of “safety first,” according to a report to council. Subcommittee members Luke Coletti, Debby Beck and Lori McDonnell recommended eliminating the three parklets at Lighthouse and Fountain and replacing them with sidewalk dining areas. The council voted 5-2 in favor of the plan. (The council was scheduled to decide on draft design guidelines on Nov. 20, after the Weekly’s deadline.)

The Jacobses are planning to “go out with a bang,” inviting musicians who have played at Wild Fish in the past to bring their instruments and musician friends for a party and jam session from 6:30-9:30pm on Saturday, Nov. 23.

“Pacific Grove is a great place for live music now, which wasn’t the case before the pandemic,” Liz Jacobs says.

The couple will pack up their parklet on Sunday, Nov. 24.