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Park(ing) Day: Turning Metered Spots into Green Spots Monday, September 15, 2008
Park(ing) Day, a global movement to promote the use of green space in urban centers, will be celebrated on September 19. The movement started in San Francisco as an opportunity for citizens, artists, and activists to collaborate and create temporary public parks out of curbside parking spaces. According to organizers, more than 70% of most cities’ outdoor space is dedicated to private vehicles. It is from this fact that the movement, now in its third year, draws its momentum.
Participants in Chattanooga can pick a parking spot in town, accepting the lawful terms of using it, namely, feeding the meter, and create a mini-park for the day. If inexpensive curbside parking promotes increased traffic and wasteful fuel use in the downtown area, curbside parks promote revitalized, green street-scapes. Fountains, pools, public beds, and hanging gardens have found ways into Park(ing) spots in the past, as well as park-benches and full-sized trees.
CreateHere will host a Park(ing) spot outside our Main Street location from 10 am to 2 pm. Local companies have also committed to create metered green spaces downtown and on the North shore.
For information and ideas for your Park(ing) spot, visit parkingday.org or check out the Trust for Public Land’s website.
By Veronique Bergeron
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