Temporary public open space…one spot at a time.
If you find yourself downtown on Friday, Sept. 19, don’t be alarmed if the parking spaces look a little…well…different. This Friday, Chattanooga will celebrate its seventh annual PARK(ing) Day, a unique event that aims to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into miniature public parks.
The project began in 2005 with the transformation of a single metered parking space in San Francisco to a public park—complete with grass, tree, and bench—for the two-hour duration that space’s meter allowed.
Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, is the group behind the event. According to its founders, “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…at least until the meter runs out!”
PARK(ing) Day has expanded into an annual open-source event with participants worldwide. This year, our PARK(ing) Day will feature art, rock climbing, dance, and food—and everything is offered for free since the rules of the event prohibit selling items in the spaces.
To join in the fun, find PARK(ing) Day spaces along the sides of Main Street, Market Street, CitiPark, Broad Street at Aquarium Way, and Frazier Avenue from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
PARK(ing) Day, parkingday.org
— Rachael Poe