Nevada City's sustainability team wants to stretch out Commercial Street's narrow sidewalks into hangout space with a moveable boardwalk.

San Francisco has latched onto the concept, placing raised wooden sidewalks in streetside parking spaces and topping the quasi-patios with bistro chairs and tables, bike racks and planter boxes. The result is a “micro park” along busy streets.

The committee is proposing a boardwalk running Commercial Street from Nevada City Crystal and Glass on Pine Street to Coopers Bar.

“The boardwalk would look similar to the historic wooden sidewalks we still see in various places around town,” Councilwoman Reinette Senum wrote. “We are looking to do a 60-day pilot utilizing as much recycled material as possible.”

The boardwalk idea needs to pass through several layers of review, but if it comes to fruition, it will be one of the first and most visible projects of the sustainability team.

Created earlier this year, the team is developing a holistic sustainability plan, strategizing how to make Nevada City's economy more diverse and resilient, use natural resources more efficiently and strengthen a community support system.

The team presented a diverse list of proposed projects to the City Council Wednesday. Ideas include extending trails, retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency and promoting locally grown food.

The team is currently appealing to the Butte County Private Industry Council to secure funds for a full-time sustainability projects manager.

To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.