Experimental outdoor dining structures to be unveiled in Corbin this spring

A prototype version of the "parallel park" was put in place last November. Final versions are set to be unveiled this spring.

Outdoor, curbside dining will soon become a regular sight in downtown Corbin when the first of several experimental “parallel parks” are unveiled this spring.

Corbin Main Street Manager Andy Salmons said the parallel parks — wooden platforms that will be placed outside downtown restaurants where there are normally parked cars — are part of a larger plan to introduce new elements into downtown Corbin that will change the look and feel of the town, ultimately making it a more livable, lively community.

“They are actually very common,” Salmons said. “There are about 200 communities right now that have them. They are in Middlesboro. They have one right in the middle of things … at one of their coffee shops. It’s not a new idea.”

But Corbin hopes to add some new twists to its version of the parallel park when the first of them is placed on Main Street in front of The Dixie Café in April or May. The first difference is that they will be modular, so by adding expandable center sections it could literally be extended from just the length of a single parking space to take up an entire block if desired.

Also, the final design will have decorative touches and areas for plantings of appealing shrubs, flowers or trees. And, each of the parallel parks in Corbin will have adjustable “feet” or legs that allow it to exactly match the curb height depending where it is placed on the street.

A prototype version, constructed by the city’s Department of Public Works, was unveiled briefly in November to test the idea. Salmons said many things were learned from that effort. For one, the final design will be about a foot more narrow to ease concerns about creating a tight fit for cars driving along the roadway. Also, he said reflective poles and large decorative planters will be placed at the ends of the structure to help motorists be more aware of the structures and to stop any cars that stray.

When the idea was first announced last year, Salmons said Facebook lit up with lively discussion about whether they would be rammed into by drivers or cause other safety concerns.

“How often do parked cars get hit on Main Street? It’s happened, but it’s not happened often,” Salmons said. “Technically, if a car is going to hit that, there’s nothing really to stop it from going on up on the sidewalk and hitting someone too. I don’t think it’s really a big safety concern. It’s not much different than you sitting in your car parked on the street.”

Actually, Salmons is hoping that pairing parallel parks up on opposite sides of the street will have a “traffic calming” effect.

“You will have a perceived narrowing of the road, even though it is not really narrower, that will have the effect of slowing cars down. Also, it provides something visually interesting or appealing to look at.”

Each of the modular sections of the parallel parks is engineered to hold 2,000 lbs. Salmons said the idea for the design came from guidelines put forth by UCLA and the New York Department of Transportation on how to implement the idea.

Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney said he’s received a lot of input from citizens regarding the parallel parks, and called it “experimental” and subject to change.

“I really do like the idea. I think some are a little apprehensive as to what it’s going to look like and we’ve had some opposition to it because of people that are worried about safety and that sort of thing,” McBurney said. “Some of the criticism has been justifiable. The verdict is still out. Once we get into the nitty gritty of it we’ll know more about what direction we are going to go.”
Salmons said the idea, like anything new, will require some time to sink in with people, but he’s confident that once implemented for an extended period of time, and perfected, it will become something most will embrace.