Why not stop by a PARKing Day park near you between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. today and get in on the fun!
On the third Friday of every September, people in cities around the world temporarily convert on-street parking spaces into public open spaces for the annual PARK(ing) Day event. PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 and raises awareness about the importance of a sustainable, livable, and healthy city.
This year, SDOT has permitted 40 parks, each offering a fun and unique way for people to interact with local community groups and businesses. The parks include places to sit, games, art, trees and landscaping, and much, much more. The parks will be in place from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM today in neighborhoods all around the city.
You’ll find PARK(ing) Day parks from Lake City to Rainier Beach and from Ballard to West Seattle. There are also groups of parks in South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, and downtown Seattle. A map of all the parks—along with a short description of what’s happening in each one—is available on the PARK(ing) Day website.
SDOT is hosting a park on 9th Avenue, between Denny Way and Westlake Avenue. Come on by to try out our “Choose Your Mode Adventure” course and practice the rules of the road. Everyone who completes the course will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a $200 gift card from REI. We’ll also have free food samples from Whole Foods, so be sure to check us out!
And while we’re talking about parks in parking spaces, don’t forget to visit Seattle’s first parklet at Montana Bar at 1506 E Olive Way. Parklets are an outgrowth of PARK(ing) Day, and the Montana Bar parklet is part of SDOT’s Pilot Parklet Program.