You're probably wondering, what is PARK(ing) Day? Is goDCgo encouraging us to drive now? Actually, it's the exact opposite! Held the third Friday in September, PARK(ing) Day is a day designed to encourage people to rethink how we use public space by temporarily converting metered parking spaces into parklets. As we shared last month, a parklet is a conversion of on-street parking into a mini park or oasis, community seating area, picnic area, art pop-up, play space, outdoor reading room, or any other alternative usage besides parking a car.
On September 18, from 9am to 4pm, Washington, DC will observe and celebrate this year's PARK(ing) Day. Participating businesses and organizations will transform parking spaces across all eight wards into a creation of their own -- including goDCgo! You can find us on the 1200 block of G Street NW. Make sure you stop by and join us for games, prizes, and loads of outdoor fun. The American Society for Landscape Architects (ASLA), Baked & Wired, DC UrbanGreen, Golden Triangle’s parKIT, Luke's Lobster, the American Public Health Association, Project for Public Spaces, Urban Land Institute, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and ZGF Architects will also host converted parklets on September 18, among many others that are not listed so you could be in for a surprise!
PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 and has spread across the globe in the last decade. All around the world, parking spaces will be transformed to enhance communities and encourage citizens to engage in reimagining public space. Here in Washington, DC, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) organizes the application and permitting process for PARK(ing) Day pop-up spaces, which is growing year over year.
Last year goDCgo’s parklet helped the Capital Bikeshare system celebrate its fourth birthday and this year promises to be just as fun. We look forward to seeing you there!
