On PARK(ing) Day - Friday, September 18th - metered public parking spots nationwide will become temporary public parks. We would like to invite YOU to participate here in the Twin Cities.
If you’re not familiar with PARK(ing) Day, you’re in for a treat:
Originally created by San Fransisco based art and design collective Rebar, PARK(ing) Day is a one-day, global event where artists, activists, organizations, and citizens collaborate to temporarily transform parking spots into PARK(ing) spaces: temporary public parks. The mission is to rethink the way streets are used, call attention to the need for urban parks, celebrate ones we already have, and improve the quality of urban human habitat… if only for a couple of hours.
PARK(ing) Day is an open source project, over it’s four year history participants have begun to adapt and remix it’s components to address a variety of social issues in diverse urban contexts around the world. This DIY approach has also expanded the project to include a broad range of interventions well beyond the basic “tree-bench-sod” park typology initially envisioned. In recent years, participants have built interventions ranging from free health clinics, urban farming and ecology demonstrations, political seminars, art installations, free bike repair shops and even a wedding ceremony.
PARK(ing) Day has effectively re-valued the metered parking space as an important part of the commons - a site for generosity, expression, socializing and play. And although temporary, PARK(ing) Day has inspired direct participation in the civic processes that permanently alter the urban landscape.
Check out the official PARK(ing) Day website to learn more or check out these photos to get a better sense of what PARK(ing) Day actually looks like.
This year, Solutions Twin Cities (WBSC Keyholders Colin & Troy) is heading up local organizational efforts and, together with the WBSC, are hosting a Kick-Off Happy Hour on Wednesday, August 5th from 5 -7PM for people interested in PARK(ing) Day. We would love to see you there and talk with you more about the various ways you might be involved. The details:
PARK(ing) Day Kick-Off Happy Hour
Wednesday, August 5th from 5 to 7PM
West Bank Social Center
501 Cedar Avenue (above The Nomad World Pub)
Joing the PARK(ing) Day Twin Cities Facebook group to stay connected and learn more about this upcoming event as it happens. If you can’t make the meeting, but still want to be involved, just send Solutions an email at info(at)solutionstwincities(dot)org.
Hope to see you there!
