Park(ing) Day Across America

Last Friday, Urban Milwaukee with our partners NEWaukee, and the United Performing Arts Funds took part in Park(ing) Day 2013 by bringing music and mini-golf to the streets of Milwaukee.  We share this story from Streetsblog to show what other groups around the nation did for their Park(ing) Day 2013.

It was only eight years ago that the international movement known as Park(ing) Day got started (in San Francisco or New York, depending on whom you ask). In a short time, this fun way to demonstrate the squandered potential of ordinary parking spaces has become a global phenomenon.

Today, in cities across the United States and around the world, people are using parking spaces to express aspirations for their cities. We’ve compiled some images of their work — from Muncie, Indiana, to Berkeley, California. I think these demonstrations offer a pretty powerful message about the demand for more livable cities. Check it out:

Here’s Atlanta, via ATLUrbanist:

Dallas, via Patrick McDonnell:

 

Pittsburgh, via Bike Pittsburgh:

Hartford, Connecticut, via Hartford Has It:

Portland, Oregon, via JF Schmidt and Son Co.

Oklahoma City, via Meg Sayler:

Muncie, Indiana, via Lohren Deeg:

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, via Art Milwaukee / Urban Milwaukee:

St. Louis, via St. Louis Treasurer:

Berkeley, California, via MIG News:

Cleveland, Ohio, via BuckBuckCLE:

Philadelphia, via Eviama Life Spa:

West Palm Beach, Florida, via @walkableWPB:

Richmond, Virginia, via Andy Boenau:

New Brunswick, New Jersey, via Jonathan Hawkins:

There are so many Park(ing) Day spots we could only feature a few. According to Park(ing) Day organizers, 162 cities in 53 countries have reported they’re participating, but there are likely more. Kudos to all the people around the world who made this happen!

This story originally ran on Streetsblog. Angie Schmitt is a newspaper reporter-turned planner/advocate who manages the Streetsblog Network from glamorous Cleveland, Ohio. She also writes about urban issues particular to the industrial Midwest at Rustwire.com.

Our Park(ing) Day 2013 Photo Gallery