PARK(ing) Day Twin Cities // Friday, September 18th
Maureen Ness
Here is a great opportunity to get involved in something well-needed and fun with a fairly low time-commitment – from Solutions Twin Cities:
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. If you're not familiar with PARK(ing) Day, read on:
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.
We've fallen for this project and are excited to be heading up organizational
efforts in the Twin Cities this year and we'd love to have Architecture for
Humanity: Minnesota involved in some capacity. We're hosting a Kick-Off Happy Hour on Wednesday, August 5th from 5 -7PM at
the West Bank Social Center 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)
You can also visit the PARK(ing) Day Twin Cities Facebook group for more
information. If you can't make the meeting, but still want to be involved, just
send us an email at info(at)solutionstwincities(dot)org.
Pleaes let us know if you have any questions. Hope to see you there and please
help spread the word!
Colin & Troy
Solutions Twin Cities
in...@solutionstwincities.org
www.solutionstwincities.org