Event: 7th Annual Park(ing) Day is September 19

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Photos from the 2013 Park(ing) Day 

On September 19, artists, activists, planners, local businesses and ordinary Philadelphians will take over the city’s metered parking spots and create interactive parks in the 170 square foot spaces for the 7th annual Park(ing) Day.

“The event celebrates parks and other public spaces in cities across the country, and raises awareness of the need for more pedestrian-friendly spaces in our urban areas,” said Assistant Organizer Erike De Veyra.

Park(ing) Day was founded by Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, in 2005 to promote the need for green spaces in urban environments.

The event began in Philadelphia in 2008. While in the past the event mostly took place in Center City, De Veyra said in the last few years she’s made it a goal to expand to other neighborhoods, including Fishtown, East Falls, Manayunk, Germantown, Olney, Logan, West Philly, Grays Ferry, West Girard and more.

“This year Fishtown will be on the map!” she said.

Overall, the goal of the event is to promote green and pedestrian-friendly urban spaces as well as a sense of a community.

“For the public, I think seeing so many teams come out to create parks reinforces that we’re all part of a community and we become part of that community when we participate and engage each other in quaint public spaces,” De Veyra said.

In the evening, visitors of and volunteers from the 2014 Park(ing) Day Philadelphia parklets are encouraged to head over to the Philadelphia Center for Architecture after 5 p.m. for an after-party. RVSP here.

This year’s event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Center for Architecture with AIA Philadelphia and organized by Zimmerman Architecture and Planning Studio, in partnership with DVRPC.

View a complete list of participating parklets here.

Share your photos of the parklets with us using the hashtag #phillychangers and @generocity on Twitter and Instagram!

Photos c/o Park(ing) Day Philadelphia