Park(ing) Day 2014

Created by forward thinking design firm Rebar in 2005, Park(ing) Day has grown to become a global event that embraces the idea of using short term lease urban space to foster awareness for the use of urban space.  

The ambition of the one day event is to increase awareness for the need for diversity in public space, open up debate about how public space is created and shared, and to improve the quality of life for city dwellers.

The original temporary park was set up in a concrete laden area of Down Town San Francisco that is underserved by public space. For two hours an ordinary metered parking space became a tiny park with lush sod, a shade tree and a cozy bench.  Park(ing) Day has since been promoted world wide as an open source project inviting creativity to address a variety of social issues urban communities around the world.

It has evolved  far beyond the simple mini-park motif with participants using the short term leased space to build  free health clinics, plant temporary urban farms, ecology demonstrations, political seminars, art installations, and free bike repair shops. A Park(ing) Day space has even been used as a wedding venue.

On Sept 19^th, over a dozen participating organizations transformed Uptown Charlotte parking spaces into small, but innovative urban realms where pedestrians could interact, perhaps stay and sit for a while, or even just appreciate the creativity and smile as they strolled past.

Microfarm teamed up with the Charlotte Center City Partners, Boxman Studios, Neighboring Concepts, and The Lawrence Group to create a svelte urban farm complete with an elegant modern gathering space built into a shipping container, mobile chicken coop, rain water storage tank, plants and other cedar garden structures.

While no one shared wedding vows in our temporary urban park, plenty of folks stopped by to have a look at the sliver laced Wyandotte hens or take a break in the ultra cool steel lounge space. And when the lease was up on our temporary park, perhaps some of them even went home with a new appreciation for the importance of public space.