We’re unpaving parking spots and putting up a paradise for people!
“Shifting the Paradigm” designed by Maki Kawaguchi
WHAT:
In celebration of PARK(ing) Day on Friday, September 15, Idaho Walk Bike Alliance will join with ACHD Commuteride, American Heart Association – Idaho, Oliver Russell and Stack Rock Group :: Landscape Architecture to create temporary public “PARKs” on 8th Street between Idaho and Bannock in downtown Boise.
This temporary public urban open space, which will be installed in the five parking spots closest to Idaho Street, will be open to all who pass by between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
PARK(ing) Day , an annual global event since 2005, inspires artists, activists and citizens in cities around the world to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces.
WHEN & WHERE:
WHO & “PARK” CONCEPTS:
- Idaho Walk Bike Alliance is the only advocacy group working statewide to improve safety on roadways for all non-motorized users, and envisions an Idaho known for its active, vibrant, healthy and economically strong communities. Its “PARK” will be similar to the one created last year and feature greenery on loan from North End Organic Nursery and grouped sitting areas where visitors can stop by to chat or just sit and relax.
- ACHD Commuteride’s mission is to promote smart commute options through education, rideshare services, and effective partnerships. Its “PARK” will show off how relaxing vanpooling really is. People will be invited to stop by to read a book, listen to a podcast, or just relax while sitting in a cushy, outdoor vanpool seat.
- American Heart Association in Idaho works to make an impact on lives by empowering people and their loved ones to live healthier lives and enjoy more peace of mind about heart disease and stroke, our No. 1 and No. 5 killers. Its “PARK” concept will star a little red bench where people will be invited to share their “why” by explaining the moments, people or experiences that motivate them to live healthier lives. “PARK” visitors will also be able to win tchotchkes by participating in a physical challenge.
- Oliver Russell builds brands for purpose-driven companies that have a product, service, or business model that benefits society. Its “PARK” will celebrate nature and feature a pre-built structure with a large paint-by-numbers mural of the Sawtooth Mountains. Passersby can enter, hang out and help paint the mural. The organization is developing the “PARK” for Nature Valley and will be handing out free granola bars to visitors.
- Stack Rock Group is a quirky and creative landscape architecture firm that creates environments where people thrive in lifestyle and livelihood. Its “PARK” will transform a metered parking space into a natural, relaxing, park-like setting with help from Sterling Landscape Company. They hope to reaffirm Boise’s focus on creating the nation’s most livable city while calling attention to the need for continued focus on urban open space.
WHY:
Idaho Walk Bike Alliance, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting active transportation as healthy, safe, and reliable for all Idahoans, celebrated PARK(ing) Day last year with a single “PARK”. It decided to amplify the conversation about public spaces this year by inviting other organizations to join the event.
(Image: Idaho Walk Bike Alliance’s Board President Pat Riceci enjoying PARK(ing) Day 2016 on 8th Street in Boise)
“Streets are for people too! So, we hope to call attention to the way our streets are improved when we share them and highlight the need for more urban open spaces,” said Cynthia Gibson, Executive Director of Idaho Walk Bike Alliance. “We chose 8th Street for our “PARK” because it is such a fantastic example of how access for cyclists and pedestrians helps create a healthy and vibrant community. This access even boosts communities’ bottom lines because non-motorized transportation facilities provide tangible economic benefits. It’s just good for business.”
ABOUT PARK(ing) DAY:
Originally invented in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day challenges people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure. “In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” says Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The planning strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the urban landscape.”
Since 2005, the project has blossomed into a worldwide grassroots movement: PARK(ing) Day 2011 – the last year statistics were collected – included 975 “PARK” installations in more than 160 cities in 35 countries on six continents. Though PARK(ing) Day no longer tracks the number of PARKs each year, the project continues to expand to urban centers across the globe.
PARK(ing) Day is an “open-source” user-generated invention created by independent groups around the globe who adapt the project to champion creative, social or political causes that are relevant to their local urban conditions.
More background information on the annual event can be found on the PARK(ing) Day website at parkingday.org. Find photos from past events here.
Original PARK(ing) Day concept by Rebar
Founded in 2004 in San Francisco, Rebar is an internationally recognized art and design studio operating at the intersection of art, design and ecology. www.rebargroup.org
