Visitors play in SE Uplift's Park(ing) Day parklet on SE Hawthorne Boulevard in 2018. Photo by Nico Lim, Portland Bureau of Transportation.
By Sumaya Mohamed, Portland Bureau of Transportation
(August 14, 2019) It’s that time of the year again, PARK(ing) Day 2019 is right around the corner! This annual tradition celebrates the creativity of our community as they transform parking spaces into parks for a day. PARK(ing) Day encourages artists and residents to work together to temporarily transform parking spots around the city into engaging, creative public spaces. It’s a day that challenges people to re-envision how we use our public spaces and is also a testament to what can be achieved when people come together and let their creativity shine.
Park(ing) Day is for Portlanders of all ages. Photo by Nico Lim, Portland Bureau of Transportation.
PARK(ing) Day started in San Francisco in 2005 and has since then become a global movement. The city of Portland has proudly taken part in this international event since 2006. The day highlights the need for more urban spaces, raises awareness of how open public space is created and allocated, and strengthens connections between communities. Watch a video about PARK(ing) Day in Portland and what it means to the community at https://youtu.be/_0_e25SSTxk.
It’s not only a fun opportunity, but an educational one as well. We hope PARK(ing) Day will challenge you to engage in conversations about how we can make better use of our public spaces, connect with other people as we celebrate our city, and have an amazing time while you’re at it!
The Portland Bureau of Transportation invites and encourages you to participate in Park(ing) Day on September 20, 2019. This event is voluntary and free for all! The deadline to apply is September 13. Visit our website for all the details. Once you have reviewed the program guide and filled out an application, please submit the application to our email: pbotparkingday@portlandoregon.gov
Questions? Please email pbotparkingday@portlandoregon.gov or call 503.823.7788.