Cities around the world will be greener at least for one day with the return of PARK(ing) Day on Friday, September 16th. What started as a modest experimental urban intervention in 2005 has evolved into an international platform for urban expression, changing the way cities conceive, organize, and use public space. Initiated by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day has officially gone global, yielding more than 800 installations in more than 180 cities on six continents in 2010. This year in LA, Angelenos will reclaim their public space as pop-up parks round the city declare that “Streets are for the People.”
On the heels of recent battles between the city and LA’s growing leagues of urban gardeners, 2011 Park-itects will be creating edible streets by transforming parking spaces into mini-urban farms. Look for lots of edible landscapes and creative, colorful public spaces that provide place for reflection and recreation. PARK(ing) Day will also lead into ArtCycle, another major community event on Saturday, September 17th. Dubbed “Parallel Parking,” many “Park-ticipants” will re-build their pop-up parks along Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood, transforming a major urban artery into a singular green urban experience.
Getting excited? Good. Here’s a quick peek at the highlights from last year which included everything from kiddie pools to native plants, free tamales to outdoor living rooms, pint-sized grassy knolls, and much more.
Businesses, community groups, and individuals who would like to participate in PARK(ing) Day can connect with organizers in their own cities (like PARK(ing) Day LA) or download all the necessary DIY information from the main site.
+ via LAist, Parking Day LA
