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What Is Parking Day?
Courtesy of Sustainable Flat Bush at http://sustainableflatbush.org/2008/09/24/parking-day-2008-cortelyou-rd-park/
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ABOUT PARK(ING) DAY
Providing temporary public open space . . . one parking spot at at time.
PARK(ing) Day is a annual open-source global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public places. The project began in 2005 when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, converted a single metered parking space into a temporary public park in downtown San Francisco. Since 2005, PARK(ing) Day has evolved into a global movement, with organizations and individuals (operating independently of Rebar but following an established set of guidelines) creating new forms of temporary public space in urban contexts around the world.
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!
http://parkingday.org/about-parking-day/
How To Participate?
1. Submit a small thumbnail drawing of your concept (Parking space dimensions: approximately 25' x 8')
2. Request a parking a parking space or receive one at check-in
3. Deadline to submit ideas: Friday, September 14, 2012 at 5:00 PM
4. Submit to: app@culturalcouncil.org
For further info: call 904-358-3600, ext. 12 or email app@culturalcouncil.org
Article by Ennis Davis
Courtesy of Brooklyn Heights Blog at http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/3836
Title image courtesy of alt transport at http://alttransport.com/2010/09/today-is-parking-day-2010/
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Adam W
September 13, 2012, 07:28:06 AMThat's a really cool idea. I assume this does not apply to parking garages or surface parking lots - though it would be amazing to see one of those turned into a massive park.
Any idea if this is going to be coordinated with food trucks and/or live entertainment? I'd imagine the latter would probably be a possibility.
gedo3
September 13, 2012, 08:16:59 AMVery clever! Sounds like a lot of fun--and makes people appreciate other people and the environment!
fieldafm
September 13, 2012, 08:55:24 AMMetered parking spaces only.
Food trucks are not part of the equation (and are not allowed on City Right of Way regardless). In fact, there is a much larger goal in regards to Jacksonville's Park(ing) Day and it has to do with downtown restaurants.
People can play music if that is their choosing. Their will be no electricity provided, however.
sheclown
September 13, 2012, 09:57:28 AMgreat idea! What sort of things do people do?
fieldafm
September 13, 2012, 10:01:33 AMDesign guidelines (represented on the flyer in the article) were kept to a minimum to encourage you to use your creativity!
You can google image 'park(ing) day' to get some ideas.
We are going to followup this event with another art-inspired parking event through the MOCA Contemporaries in October.
Captain Zissou
September 13, 2012, 10:45:54 AMWouldn't it have been better to do this on a Saturday? I'm sure the event will be cool to see, but unless you work downtown the event is rather inaccessible.
fieldafm
September 13, 2012, 10:56:47 AMPark(ing) Day is an international event that Jacksonville is participating in. The event is celebrated worldwide on Sept 21st.
finehoe
September 13, 2012, 11:16:27 AMI like this idea conceptually, but it has more impact in a city where taking over parking spaces to create a 'park' occurs in a dense area that lacks open space. In downtown Jacksonville, where there are more empty lots than built ones and parking spaces can go for days without being filled, I suspect it won't quite convey the same ideas.
But it should be pretty cool as public art.
fieldafm
September 13, 2012, 11:35:22 AMHere is an event page you can cirulate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/492922994053451/
dougskiles
September 13, 2012, 11:46:14 AMWill there be a map posted the day before showing us where the parks will be located?
fieldafm
September 13, 2012, 11:48:48 AMDepends on how many people participate.
You and Laura should do a co-working park downtown for the day
Overstreet
September 13, 2012, 12:18:29 PMIt just goes to show there is a "national" day for most everything.
thelakelander
September 13, 2012, 12:26:37 PMThis just came into my email account.
CityLife
September 13, 2012, 12:34:20 PMReally cool idea^. Hats off to Mad Men Marketing
Debbie Thompson
September 13, 2012, 01:25:41 PMCool idea. It should be on a Saturday, regardless of when the "national" day is. :-)
Captain Zissou
September 13, 2012, 01:36:27 PMThis was my initial reaction. I was thinking it would be better to activate all of the existing public spaces through food trucks, street performers, patio spaces with music....etc. I hope that DVI will start in a concentrated area and then move outwards so that the event will be more perceptable. I am worried that it will just look like somebody put their couch and tv on the street for fun. Props to Mad Men for getting involved. They have really stepped up as a downtown advocate.
Mathew1056
September 13, 2012, 01:43:50 PMcoincidentally enough, September 22nd happens to be World Car Free Day. As difficult as that my be to accomplish in this city, I'm going to try my best.
CityLife
September 13, 2012, 02:48:09 PMDowntown is usually packed with people on Friday around lunchtime and in the afternoon's. Certainly moreso than your average Saturday. I believe the event will go on past 5pm anyways, so those that can't get off work can still check it out. The project also requires a lot of involvement from people who work 9-5's DT, so it's not like they would be able to do anything on a Saturday. I doubt Mad Men would be doing what they plan to on a Saturday...same with other businesses that may get involved.
Here in college football country, many people will either be glued to their couches Saturday or in Tally for FSU's huge game with Clemson, or Gainesville for UF's SEC home opener as well.
I believe there was some discussion about making it a multi-day thing. Field, anything you can share about that?
fieldafm
September 13, 2012, 03:36:55 PMPark(ing) Day runs 10AM to 5PM.
We are going to followup this event with another art-inspired parking event through the MOCA Contemporaries in October.
Thank you for all of the suggestions, but there is a distinct methodology behind all of this. Hopefully our larger goal will work out and you see how it all ties in together.
In the meantime I would encourage anyone interested in participating to email your site plan to app@culturalcouncil.org by tomorrow at 5PM. It is FREE to participate!!
johnny_simpatico
September 13, 2012, 05:24:16 PMThis is an idea that works best in cities with decent public transit and adequate bike lanes/bike paths -- and Jacksonville has neither. The result: extra car trips downtown for the event; fewer parking spaces for arriving automobiles.
thelakelander
September 13, 2012, 06:25:56 PMI don't want to be the bearer of bad news for Tallahassee and Gainesville but both of those games will be over by halftime....
No need to sulk for the entire weekend. You have my permission to make alternative plans after the beatdowns.
EDIT: I stand corrected. Florida's season will be over after Tennessee has their way with them this weekend.
fieldafm
September 13, 2012, 10:28:57 PMYeah because the U looked soooogood last weekend
fieldafm
September 14, 2012, 06:29:14 AMBumping this up
CityLife
September 14, 2012, 12:51:00 PMLake, how many points will you give me if I take BCC against The U tomorrow? 25 for $10 and you are on.
thelakelander
September 14, 2012, 05:03:42 PMSorry. Me and Dan Sileo are touching that with a ten foot pole....
listen here: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/20172866/audio-former-miami-dl-dan-sileos-rant-about-the-hurricanes-loss-to-kansas-state-nsfw
thelakelander
September 20, 2012, 09:11:04 AMOne more day! Last night I was told there will be at least 14 spaces participating throughout the core.
CityLife
September 21, 2012, 10:21:23 AMWhat a nice cool fall day to have Parking Day. I've seen some pictures on Facebook already and it looks great. Be sure to check it out if you have the chance. Wish I didn't work so far away, but maybe I'll be able to cut out early.
fsujax
September 21, 2012, 10:23:03 AMI am going to check it out at lunch.
Captain Zissou
September 21, 2012, 10:28:59 AMLake, come on. I thought you were smarter than that. UF may have just now finished scrubbing all that nasty orange and white endzone paint off of their shoes from the TN game; just in time to stomp Kentucky this weekend.
CityLife
September 21, 2012, 02:32:52 PMI think Park(ing) day also shows the benefits of working DT. I am so friggin pissed off that I'm missing out on all the lounging and random fun that appears to be happening (via Facebook pics). I mean really, how often are there random fun things that occur in suburban office parks? You have to drive places to get food. You have to drive places to get a post work drink. There are never festivals. There are never events. Traffic is equally crappy. There is no St. Johns River. And so on.
I've worked at a suburban office park near Tinseltown, and now near St. Augustine, but have also worked in DT Jax and near DT Jax. You simply can't match the workday experience DT. On days like today, even hanging out at Parking Day for an hour would make it feel like it wasn't a workday.
thelakelander
September 21, 2012, 04:03:24 PMHere are a few shots from earlier today: