Finding parking can be a headache in Columbia, but what if you could reimagine those parking spaces as shared spaces? What if locals could gather, eat a quick snack, join a friend for coffee, or plan a meet-cute?
Tomorrow from 10 a.m.-4 p.m, Columbia will explode with art, and tiny, urban parks will pop up around the city to celebrate PARK(ing) Day.
What is PARK(ing) Day?
PARK(ing) Day is an annual, global event that motivates communities to creatively transform 8x20 parking spaces into parklets that:
- Are accessible to all.
- Cultivate your sense of civic pride.
- Encourage you to consider the role you play in creating, building, and improving your local urban environment.
A little history lesson:
The very first PARK(ing) Day took place in San Francisco, California in 2005 as a public art project. The goal was to reimagine a parking space as a mini park — not just for a day, but to create something that would permanently transform your city’s landscape.
Did you know Washington Street — between Main + Sumter streets — hosts the city’s first public parklet? The space was created by artist Frankie Zombie, and made possible by local organizations like One Columbia, City Center Partnership + Southern Vistas, and a grant from the AARP Community Challenge Program.
What to expect:
We suggest walking or biking around town instead of driving to check out all of the ~40 meter transformed parklets on Main, Lady, Hampton, Washington, and Park Streets. Don’t forget to go by the Saluda + Santee avenues too.
So, peruse around town like it’s 1 huge gallery tomorrow, take pics, tag @COLAtoday, and stop at each parklet to have a chat with someone in your community. You never know where 1 conversation with a stranger may lead you.
