DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — On Sunday in Delray Beach, the city's Downtown Development Authority transformed Old School Square into a pop-up dining area that it calls "Distanced Dining in the Park."
It offers a unique experience for people to pick up a meal and beverages at a downtown restaurant and come to the park to eat safely in a socially-distanced and open-air environment.
The area is also equipped with hand washing and sanitizing stations and is filled with music and outdoor lighting.
The tables are sanitized after each use and the area seats up to 80 people.
"We're all wearing masks," Kellie Ames, marketing manager of the Downtown Development Authority, said. "We ask that people wear their masks into the park until they sit down and they are eating. Just to respect everybody's comfort level and just having it in an open area, I think, makes people feel a lot more comfortable to be out here and dining as well."
The dining experience has been such a hit that it has been extended until next Saturday. Starting Monday, it will be open every day from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
A nonprofit organization called Community Greening provided trees for the pop-up area and will give one tree away to someone. Visit the website communitygreening.org for more information.
Delivery Dudes customers can use the code "localeats" on Monday to get orders delivered at the park with no delivery fee.
