Some of the most important elements of a thriving, bustling streetscape are city sidewalks and public spaces. After decades of neglect there has been a renewed interest in these urban spaces, and a reinvigorated dedication to bring them back to life.

A popular solution gaining traction in North American cities is to renovate these spaces into pop-up patios for local businesses in the hospitality sector. City planners are making accommodations to the streetscape and encouraging this type of development in their official plans and documents.  There is a strong belief that these types of initiatives will bolster civic and commercial precincts while reinvigorating activity in the downtown core.

The goal is to create a pedestrian-friendly environment and welcoming street atmosphere for people to be social, entertained, and most importantly, safe. The locations of these outdoor spaces will not interfere with the flow of pedestrians or vehicles. Instead, city planners have devised a variety of solutions that alter existing sidewalks and public spaces to accommodate a profitable patio. In locations that the integrity of the sidewalk or public space cannot sustain a pop-up patio, city planners offer ways that the physical infrastructure can be compromised for accommodation.

For business owners wishing to pursue a pop-up patio, the only requirement is that the design and aesthetic additions stay true to the existing characteristics of the surrounding environment and streetscape.  Rather then hindering the business community, this offers an opportunity to turn the district and city into a destination rather then a location.  By creating a harmonious aesthetic district, distinct from other downtown neighbourhoods, place-branding opportunities and a vivid sense of place can be achieved.