(UPDATED 9/16/19) Did you know that Friday, September 16 was Sacramento United PARK(ing) Day?
Did you know that PARK(ing) Day is an annual event during which metered parking spaces are transformed into temporary public parks and other social spaces?
Well, now you know.
Since its creation in 2005, PARK(ing) Day has grown into an international event taking place in over 160 cities on six continents. According to the PARK(ing) Day website:
“The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat…at least until the meter runs out!”
SacramentoRevealed.com – All Things Sacramento (from a personal perspective)
In Sacramento, several organizations (American Society of Landscape Architects, American Institute of Architects, and Downtown Sacramento Partnership) united to transform 9th Street between J and K Streets into a series of temporary parklets that encouraged ‘play’ in the urban environment.
That Friday morning I headed to Downtown Sacramento to see what was going on at Sacramento United PARK(ing) Day.
At a carnival-like parklet I accepted the challenge to throw darts at balloons fastened to a backdrop under a red and white stripped overhang. Standing behind the line marked in the sidewalk with the four darts I was provided, I managed to burst two of the balloons. Not bad.
At another parklet an interactive game dubbed “(re) create” invited spectator participation in creating a sculpture from notched cardboard pieces painted different colors and in different shapes. The rules:
- 1) same colors cannot touch;
- 2) remove three pieces;
- 3) move two more.
That was way too complicated for me.
The broad vision of Sacramento United PARK(ing) Day is to expose the public to what parklets are, and encourage business owners and/or property owners to explore the possibility of creating more permanent parklets.
Parklets are funded and maintained by neighboring businesses, residents, and community organizations, and publicly accessible and open to all.
Additionally, the sponsoring organizations and other local groups hope to engage local policy makers in discussion about potential improvements in the City’s current Pilot Parklet Program standards.
Comments about Sacramento United PARK(ing) Day or parklets?
Did you check out the parklets on Sacramento United PARK(ing) Day? Would you like to see more parklets in Sacramento? What changes do you believe are needed, if any, to the existing City of Sacramento Pilot Program standards?
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