On Friday it’s all hail the impromptu green space, and strike a (temporary, verdant) blow against the hegemony of the automobile! September 19 is Park(ing) Day 2008, a day urban interventionists convert parking stalls into parks, complete with rolled-out sod, lawn chairs and potted foliage. The brainchild of multidisciplinary arts collective REBAR and The Trust for Public Land, Park(ing) Day actions are happening all over the country, including here in the Twin Cities.
I got in touch with Shanai Matteson, who’s organizing the event locally. She says she’s asked people to look for (or ask the city to put hoods on meters, for a fee) parking spaces in downtown Minneapolis. She’ll be greening up a pavement swath on Nicollet Mall and another one outside the Community Design Group on 3rd Avenue. While it all sounds so guerrilla, each team will be responsible for plugging the meters the entire time they’re there. For maximum exposure of the parking/parks idea, most participants are keeping their spots at least through the lunch hour.
Check back here later, or take a look at the project’s Flickr pool to see how it went. Or, if you’re taking part, don’t miss the post park(ing) happy hour with our friends from Solutions Twin Cities.
Pictured: Park(ing) Day 2006 in Minneapolis, by Landform Minneapolis.