PARK(ing) Day

Parking lots transform into parks for one day

Posted by Adam Browning (Guest Contributor) at 5:17 PM on 21 Sep 2007

Read more about: politics | grassroots activism | placemaking | urban planning

There are two kinds of public demonstrations. Those that attract people to the cause and demonstrate new possibilities, and those that just piss people off and make enemies out of potential friends.

Here's a beautiful example of the former. "Parking" can either mean leaving an expensive hunk of climate-changing steel to cool on greasy asphalt, or it can mean sitting on the grass with friends, drinking wine in the fresh, clean air. These guys have an elegant way of getting people to think about which definition of "park" should get more city space.

If you are in SF, NYC, LA, DC, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, St. Paul, Boston, Austin, Salt Lake City, Tampa, Miami, then check it out.

Some pictures below the fold, courtesy of Transportation Alternatives.

Park(ing) at MOMA

Park(ing) in Brooklyn

Park(ing) on Bedford Ave

For story: PARK(ing) Day
3 Comments | Post a Comment

In the park(ing) lot

I helped organize one of these in SF (in front of City Hall in one of the supervisor's parking spaces, actually) last year and it was a blast. Talk about consciousness-raising. Bicyclists in particular enjoyed the transformation, and I saw many people internally questioning fundamental assumptions about the use of public space after witnessing our little park.

All praise reBAR. Blessed revelation.

Eat what you grow, grow what you eat

by PermieWriter at 5:45 PM on 21 Sep 2007

Here's What I Don't Understand

Cities like Seattle and San Francisco have the highest real estate valuation in the world.

Just to live in a reasonably priced apartment requires having a good paying job.

Yet there are all these people running around doing "protests" and "art works".

Where do they live?

What do they do for money?

Are they all a bunch of Trust Fund Babies?

Sign me,
Puzzled and Middle Class in Kent

Texeme.Construct(function(x)=Participation(x))

by jabailo at 7:51 PM on 21 Sep 2007

The only requirement is community.

Actually John, as you know from living in Kent, Washington has the highest minimum wage in the nation. A one bedrooom/ studio aprtment can be found in the $500-700 range in the city. No car for driving around saves money. Therefore a barista on minimum wage with tips can actually make it by in the city and have access to the culture and community that make art projects like these feasible.

One other thing just because you run around doing art projects and protests doesn't negate the possibility that you have a high paying job that you work very hard at.

Sign me: Resourceful and Frugal Seattlite

The Black Car Project Killing cars before they kill us!

by wildleaf at 4:05 PM on 22 Sep 2007

ADVERTISING POLICY

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have an account, log in. If you don't have an account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.