PARK(ing) Day 2014 Recap

BicycleSPACE's parklet in Washington, DC image: Alexandra Hay — BicycleSPACE’s parklet in Washington, DC
image: Alexandra Hay

PARK(ing) Day‘s annual takeover and transformation of parking spaces around the world took place this past Friday, September 19. Creators of parklets this year included:

ASLA’s Rhode Island Chapter and University of Rhode Island Student Chapter in Providence
the Sierra Chapter in Sacramento
the Minnesota Chapter’s Women in Landscape Architecture group in Minneapolis
the New York Chapter and City College of New York’s Landscape Architecture Program in New York City

Taking place the third Friday in September since 2005, PARK(ing) Day began with a single parking space re-imagined as a temporary public place by the San Francisco art and design studio Rebar. For more on PARK(ing) Day’s origins and story, check out Rebar’s PARK(ing) Day Manual and Manifesto.

In Washington, DC, the District Department of Transportation launched a new system this year, with an application process and permit for PARK(ing) Day pop-up spaces—among the requirements, a park concept and site design had to be submitted for approval. Washington, DC hosted 18 parklets, spread throughout the city and organized by design firms, shops and eateries, and various departments of city government, among others. Below, we take a look at 7 PARK(ing) Day spaces in downtown DC. From inviting sitting areas to cornhole, these spaces offer a look at the potential a single parking space holds to spark new ideas on the different functions curbside space can support.

The Golden Triangle BID's PARK(ing) Day space image: Alexandra Hay — The Golden Triangle BID’s PARK(ing) Day space
image: Alexandra Hay

The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District‘s parklet included information on the group’s proposed improvements to the Pennsylvania Avenue streetscape in the busy Golden Triangle neighborhood, located between Dupont Circle and the White House. The BID completed Phase 2 of a Streetscape Enhancement Project in 2013, which added a landscaped median, trees, rain gardens, and public art installations to nearby Connecticut Avenue.

goDCgo's parklet image: Alexandra Hay — goDCgo‘s parklet
image: Alexandra Hay

A parklet by landscape architecture and urban design firm Oculus image: Alexandra Hay — A parklet by landscape architecture and urban design firm Oculus
image: Alexandra Hay

Urbanful's PARK(ing) Day space image: Alexandra Hay — Urbanful‘s PARK(ing) Day space
image: Alexandra Hay

BicycleSPACE's parklet image: Alexandra Hay — BicycleSPACE‘s parklet
image: Alexandra Hay

Ace Hardware's colorful space image: Alexandra Hay — Ace Hardware’s colorful space
image: Alexandra Hay

Alba Osteria's parklet image: Alexandra Hay — Alba Osteria‘s parklet
image: Alexandra Hay

This past spring, Rebar’s founders launched two new ventures: Matthew Passmore founded MoreLab, and John Bela and Blaine Merker, ASLA, started Gehl Studio, the American office of Gehl Architects, a public space design consultancy that focuses on creating “cities for people.” Though Rebar has closed its doors, PARK(ing) Day will continue, and its website and DIY Network are still available.

The full list of 2014 locations can be found on PARK(ing) Day’s website, and if you didn’t get a chance to stop by a parklet this year, we hope you remember to do so next time around—or better yet, design your own pop-up space for PARK(ing) Day 2015!