Activists to Turn Parking Spaces into Green Spaces

Next American City: Daily Report
by Brian Krier
22 Aug 08

Between all the mammoth S.U.V.s, boxy minivans and compact cars, parallel parking in any city can be a nightmare. Come Sept. 19 to the streets of Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and several other cities, drivers desperately vying for precious curbside parking will also have to compete with potted plants, park benches, bicycles and some clever environmental activists. Read more at Next American City.

photo: PARK[ing] Day 2007, Cincinnati, OH

Call to Citizens

"Cincinnati PARK[ing] Day" call for entries (Posted: Aug. 6, 2008) -- Cincinnati PARK[ing] Day announces a call to citizens for the second annual "Cincinnati PARK[ing] Day" to be held Sept. 19, 2008 in parking spaces around Cincinnati. This is a one-day, global event in which artists, activists, and citizens collaborate to temporarily transform parking spots into public parks and alternative public spaces. Parking spaces show the fundamental elements of a good outdoor public space and may include seating, shade, and a place to watch people, exchange information, and view scenery. Each parking spot can be transformed into a park, playground, puppet show, or whatever you like.

This event is open to the public. There is no entry fee. There are no commissions. We're looking to hear from interested parties before Sept. 5, 2008 so that we can start lining up parking spaces, organizing materials and advising the community of our ambitious intentions.

For more information, visit:
www.cincinnatiparkingday.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/cincinnatiparkingday

Contact us: cincinnatiparkingday[at]gmail[dor]com

photo: Park[ing]Day 2006, Cleveland, OH

"Place First" Parking Plans

PARK[ing] Day gives us all a chance to consider how parking fits into the larger city.

An article about "place first" parking plans points out that while demand for parking is a product of supply, the minimum supply of parking is mandated through zoning codes.

At some point a balance has to be met. The article also mentions, with respect to Hartford, "They have too much parking from the perspective that they have degraded vitality, interest and walkability, with bleak zones of parking that fragment the city. The have too little parking for the exact same reason - they have degraded walkability and thus increased the demand for parking.

In Cincinnati's CBD 20% of the surface area is dedicated to parking lots. This doesn't include on-street parking or the additional levels of garages. Putting a cap on parking can insure that demand doesn't go unchecked at the cost of walkability and vitality. It may seem counter intuitive, but the article shows that it is possible to put places before parking.

PARK[ing] Day 2006 Video

Trailer about PARK[ing] Day 2006, found here.