Placemaking

Park(ing) Day takes place around the world, on the third Friday in September.

A brief history of Park(ing)Day

“I like to think of Park(ing) Day installations as the gateway drug for urban transformation,” says John Bela.

He’s one of the minds behind the urbanist holiday, held on the third Friday of September every year. Indeed, since 2005, when Bela and his collaborators installed the first Park(ing) intervention on a drab street in downtown San Francisco, the idea has gone on to enliven countless blocks around the world, and to enlighten countless urbanites, who get to enjoy spaces normally reserved for stationary cars.” www.citylab.com

Park(ing) Day hasn’t really taken off in Joburg, yet. Decision makers are however starting to see the value in creating spaces that people want to be in, #placemaking.

The thinking behind an initiative such as Park(ing) Day can be summed up by these two placemaking authorities;

“Cars don’t shop, people do.” Project for Public Spaces
“People are attracted to people.” 8 80 Cities

Follow #Parkingday on Twitter for examples of the creative and inviting parklets created around the world.

See also PARK(ing) Day photo essay: The parklets in DC and Arlington Mobility Lab