SPROUTS
STREETS AS PLACES: REIMAGINING THE OUTDOORS
Cate Irvin spearheaded the formation of the SPROUTS pilot program in May of 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on local businesses in Chattanooga.
The 'SPROUTS' pilot program, an acronym for Streets as Places: Reimagining the Outdoors, enabled businesses, restaurants, services, and community agencies to facilitate social distancing within and outside their premises. This initiative permited the expansion of their footprints into the public right-of-way.
Participation in the SPROUTS pilot program incurred no application fees, and a grant program was developed to assist businesses and organizations in covering expenses related to traffic control devices and other essential safety measures.
SPROUTS offered three programs that organizations and businesses could apply for: temporary loading zones, in which on-street parking spaces were converted into temporary loading zones to aid in curbside pickups and delivery services. Curb lane pedestrian zones, in which street parking was converted into pedestrian space to allow for safe social distancing practices while aiding the continued flow of foot traffic in busy areas of the city. Outdoor expansion zones, in which on-street parking and/or travel lanes were converted into expanded business footprints, allowing an expansion of the organization or business's capacity.