15 Sep 2016

Events:

Park(ing) Day is Tomorrow: Pop-Up Parks of Whimsy

The original parklet that popped up in San Francisco during the first PARK(ing) Day. Photo courtesy of Rebar

The original parklet that popped up in San Francisco during the first PARK(ing) Day. Photo courtesy of Rebar

Mark your calendars and take a long lunch walk: PARK(ing) Day is taking over the city’s parking spots tomorrow, September 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you’re not familiar with PARK(ing) Day, it’s a whimsical tradition that got its start in San Francisco, California (birthplace of quirk) back in 2005. Since the original parklet was created by Rebar Group taking over a parking spot and lasting the two-hour maximum in the parking area, PARK(ing) Day has taken off and taken over parking spaces in many US cities. Basically, it’s a lawful and whimsical way to bring awareness to the fact that we make more space for cars than for nature. Tomorrow, Friday 16, it’s back! You can check out the official list of participants in the activities of the day over by accessing this link: http://ddot.dc.gov/page/parking-day-dc-2016

On Capitol Hill, Landscape Architecture Bureau will be taking over a spot along Barracks Row, near the Marine Barracks between G and I Streets SE. You can also find one sponsored by Capitol Riverfront, on New Jersey Avenue SE below M Street – right by DDOT. There will also be a pop-up parklet in NoMa, on 1st Street NE and sponsored by Ayers Saint Gross. The largest confluence of parklets can be found around Downtown, especially near the Verizon Center and the Portrait Gallery. You can check out a map featuring all the sites by clicking here.

Last but not least, make sure you go to the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW and the gleaming seat of your local government, where The Nature Conservancy, Living Classrooms and Washington Parks and People –among many other local partner organizations– will be having hands-on fun and demos from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Most importantly, all of these asphalt rectangles will be holding the possibility of wonder and a bit of nature and relaxation, and warding cars off the street for one day.

(It’s too bad the daily commute is so crappy thanks to all our Metro woes, because I really desperately want to believe in the power of keeping the car count down in the city).

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