On September 20, the international event known as PARK(ing) Day will be celebrated in Philadelphia for the sixth consecutive year with Pop-Up Parks.

Dozens of interactive parks will appear on city streets as artists, activists, planners, local businesses, and average citizens take over metered parking spots in an effort to promote green and pedestrian-friendly urban spaces.

Contained within 170 square feet, the small size and temporary nature of the parks sets them apart from the ordinary, while the creative use of space by the designers is sure to delight. In past years, these parks have included landscaped meeting areas, cafés, makeshift mini golf courses, and inventive public art displays.

PARK(ing) Day was founded by Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, in 2005 to raise awareness of the need for more urban open space. Philadelphia celebrated PARK(ing) Day for the first time in 2008 with over 25 installations for relaxing, cycling, creating art, education, and socializing.

This year’s event is sponsored by AIA Philadelphia and organized by Zimmerman Architecture and Planning Studio, in partnership with DVRPC. For more information, visit the Park(ing) Day website.

To sign up to host your own parking space, and to gather ideas from photos of former participants’ installations, visit the Park(ing) Day Philadelphia website.

To access a printable Google Map of all the parks signed up so far, visit Google Maps. Park(ing) Day can also be found on Facebook and Twitter@parkingdayphila.

Visitors to the parks are encouraged to make their last stop the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Pop-Up Garden, where a reception will be held in honor of the park designers.

To learn more about the reception, or to register as a sponsor of this festive occasion, visit the PHS Pop-Up Garden webpage. 

8/19/2013