Good luck parking downtown tomorrow, but there’s reason to go anyway—and even more reason to bring your camera. Tomorrow is PARK(ing) Day, an annual, worldwide event that transforms parking spaces in one-day parks.
PARK(ing) Day falls on the third Friday of every September, and this year Seattle will celebrate in force. More than 50 parking-spot-parks will crop up throughout the city, pushing out vehicles and welcoming pedestrians, bicyclists, tourists, families, kids, and anyone else who can enjoy the temporary public spaces. The one-day parks will include art installations, games, pop-up protected bike lanes, an outer space-themed lemonade stand, and more. Don’t forget that camera!
What do you think about PARK(ing) Day? Is it a worthwhile endeavor with a noble mission, or is it just a waste of perfectly good parking spaces? Let us know on our Facebook page.
The purpose of the event is something we can stand behind—and something we think Seattle should stand behind, too, especially amid all these recent development and housing market escalations. In its own words, “The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat.” With being bought up left and right in Seattle these days, PARK(ing) Day seems especially relevant to our city’s conversation about its future.
PARK(ing) Day began in 2005, when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, made the first temporary parking-spot-park. The event has since expanded beyond Rebar and San Francisco, and for one day each year, it now invades parking spots throughout the world.
PARK(ing) Day will run from 10am to 7pm on Friday. The date coincides with the Seattle Design Festival, and the festival team will organize awards for the best parking-spot-parks. Here’s a full list of Friday’s parking-spot-parts.
