September 18, 2008
Make Room for Park(ing) Day 2008 on Friday!
Map courtesy of the Open Planning Project.
Friday is Park(ing) Day, when New York City's obscene surfeit of parking spots will, for one glorious day, finally be put to good use! This year's Park(ing) Day will see roughly 50 parking spaces—twice the number as last year—transformed into creative little urban oases. The whole thing started back in 2005, when Transportation Alternatives commandeered a parking spot and put out chairs so people could sit and gab. Now it's an international event in 50 cities around the world. Most of the little parks will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Here are some spaces you may want to check out:
- The Lower Eastside Girls Club's “Make Tea, Not Traffic” spot at 1st Avenue and 1st Street will feature oversized tea cups and giant paper mache mushrooms, plus a free Tea Time between 4 p.m. to 6pm.
- The "Stay-cation" park at Court Street and Atlantic Avenue promises grass, lawn chairs, umbrellas, a kiddie pool for children (and even adults), board games, deck of cards, and even a game of twister.
- The Times Up! park at 7th Avenue South and Charles Street will have free pastries from eco-friendly Birdbath Bakery, as well as free bike tune-ups.
- At Bedford and North 7th, you'll be welcomed into a meditation garden with wind chimes, a yoga instructor, massage therapist, and a Japanese rock garden.
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This is so stupid.
Just more feel-good symbolic gestures from people who like pretending to solve real-world problems.
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Just an excuse for more fat obnoxious people from Queens and New Jersey to drive into Manhattan blaring their lousy music. Well, at least they keep the medical establishment in business.
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The story begins:
"Friday is Park(ing) Day, when New York City's obscene surfeit of parking spots will, for one glorious day, finally be put to good use!"
Mr. DelSignore,
Do you know the difference between journalism and editorializing?
If you think this is good, then comment here. Otherwise, you lose all credibility as a journalist when you introduce your opinion in an story.
This is a sophomoric stunt, as the commenters have already noted.
Proves or solves nothing, except to indicate the foolishness of the organizers.
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A parking space alongside a busy city street is a great place to take the family for a day out. Smell that fresh air, kids!
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WTF is this story even about. I read it twice and still dont get it. It's written like some kind of riddle.
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Hah another lib circle jerk... god i hate nyc
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@thefacts: since when are you the arbiter of credibility? If the author of the article doesn't respond to your ridiculous ultimatum, it doesn't mean shit.
PS, you are reading a BLOG, not the NYTimes, and it is a fluff-piece about parking lots getting turned into temporary parks. Jesus Christ, give it a rest.
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ribaldry: clicky
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Actually, thefacts, I'm reading the first line as pure sarcasm - "obscene surfeit of parking spots"? "finally put to good use?" Surely he's kidding. We do all know that JdS is a sarcastic bastard.
That said, it probably doesn't belong in the first line.
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I swear people will hate on anything. Put a pic of a cute puppy playing with a toy and someone will hate on it. While I have no desire to join in on this one, any time there is interest that shows people wanting less cars in the city and the space they hog made smaller is ok with me.
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At first, from reading the caption, I though that Parking Day is the antithesis of Car-Free weekend, i.e. that motorists will be able to park their cars for free (at the metered parking spots)on Friday.
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#9 you're right.
Nuance is lost on the internet.
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Grrr! I hate tea parties and yoga and lawn chairs! I hate whimsy! Grrr!! hatehatehatehatehate... Grrrr...
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I'm gonna idle my jeep in front of them.
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Now I will have to drive my Durango around the block another 6 times while looking for a spot.
This event will not benefit anyone in any way.
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"Now I will have to drive my Durango around the block another 6 times while looking for a spot."
Good. Next time take the train.