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Downtown Phoenix and Tempe Celebrate PARK(ing) Day 2013 THIS Friday, September 20th During Morning Rush Hour
Parking spaces around the globe to be temporarily reclaimed for people!
In cities around the globe, this Friday, September 20th, artists, activists and citizens will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces, as part of an annual event called “PARK(ing) Day” during morning rush hour at two locations in downtown Phoenix and one location in downtown Tempe.
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.
Photo by SuTRA Midtown
This will be the 5th annual Park(ing) Day event in downtown Phoenix. The event is organized by Stacey Champion, community activist and Founder of the local sustainability group, Rogue Green. The first Phoenix Park(ing) Day was launched by community activist Yuri Artibise who now resides in Vancouver BC.
“This is not a day to protest, but a day to rethink how we use our public space to feel a sense of connection and community engagement within a large city. If Phoenix is to thrive, walkability and connectivity need to be important factors moving forward. Small, green, public spaces feed the soul.” says Champion.
ASU students from both the downtown Phoenix and Tempe campuses will also be taking part in the event with students Connor Descheemaker and Mitchell Bobman leading the ASU locations.
The event will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. THIS Friday, September 20th.
There will be three organized morning locations:
- Main PARK(ing) Day Location – Washington St. between 1st Ave. & 2nd Ave. on south side of street – Day of Contact: Stacey – 602-788-0033
- ASU Downtown Campus – Along First Street between Taylor and Fillmore, in front of Taylor Place – Day of Contact: Connor – 480-326-6551
- ASU Tempe students – At metered parking spaces at 5th & Mill in downtown Tempe – Organized by ASU Students for the New Urbanism – Day of Contact: Mitchell – 480-254-5454
Confirmed 2013 PARKS include: Dixieland PARK with the Dixie Devils, Chalkboard PARK by Rogue Green, Percussion PARK with members of the Rhythm is Life Steel Band, Coffee with a Cop PARK, Dog PARK, Bike PARK by Phoenix Spokes People, ArchiPARK, Lounge PARK, Eco-fessional by Arizona Interfaith Power & Light, Game PARK and many more… Plus we’ll probably have a special visit by Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton!
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 information is available on the PARK(ing) Day website, at http://parkingday.org.
