It's Park(ing) Day Eve!

John Del Signore/Gothamist

Park(ing) Day is observed tomorrow in New York City and in other cities around the world. The international holiday, which turns boring old asphalt parking spaces into whimsical urban oases, was started back in 2005 by Transportation Alternatives and Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design collective. It became an annual event, and every year the curbside creations have gotten more elaborate and inspired. Last year saw parking spaces transformed into such curiosities as a meditation garden, a geodesic dome, and an urban arbor.

Though some miserable grouches wondered, "Where's an out of control taxi cab when you need one?" we think this initiative is refreshing. Transportation Alternatives spokesman Wiley Norvell explains, "Park(ing) Day is about jarring New Yorkers out of the notion that our streets need to be all-car, all the time. In a city where fewer than half of households even own cars, there are many more productive uses for 120 square feet." Here's a map of all the Park(ing) Day installations; if you're out there celebrating send us your photos or tag them "Gothamist" on Flickr.

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By John Del Signore in Arts & Entertainment on September 17, 2009 5:23 PM

Comments [rss]

GOP

Most of John Del Signore's posts are hipster related.

WorksInDUMBO

OK, not to sound like a hater (like the rest of yous), but I have to agree, this is such an annoying event!

drewo

Why would you possibly work up so much hatred about something as trivial as this?

Kojak

"San Francisco-based art and design collective"

Bah I should've known. Such cheesy garbage has its roots far beyond that of just normal hipster retardation. Its rooted within Cali. My contempt for hipsters is exceeded only by those who like to say 'Sweet' and 'Hella'

KiljoyWasHere

I like the old woman in the background with the pink cardigan who is all, "WTF are you kids doing in that parking spot? You're gonna get yourself run over."

The Man Bat

I would also like to add that the little Miss RedHead on the right can also stay home with me. I bet that chick is a demon in the sack.

Aveais Essex

Good use of "demon in the sack." It helps us understand that you haven't been with many women much quicker.

John Del Signore

Good grief, you guys sound like such a tedious crowd of tools.

valeriob

I'm really wondering why there is a computer power supply box on the floor, did people use the connections to charge stuff?

John Del Signore

You know, I don't remember! Maybe there was some New Age music? It was a meditation garden.

Tower18

Obviously they were live-blogging.

skipgates

More things white people like.

Steven

Such a stupid idea.

joekemp

EXCELLENT! Thanks for reminding me Gothamist, I almost forgot. I will take my SUV to work tomorrow and hope they "accidentally" fall in my wheel well, lol

BongoBoy

Gothamist, once again promoting aberrant hipster behaviour [first graffiti vandals, now this]. What a waste.

Past Taliban

Goldman Sachs is taking over the entire U.S. economy while you dipshyts take over 120 sq ft until you run out of quarters for the meter.

What a victory , huh?

rojedejong

Here, let me preempt any number of dumb comments:

1) Fucking hipsters!

2) Go back to Ohio!

3) Trust funds!

4) I'm at my desk at work, fuck you!

5) I've lived here forever and these idiots are destroying it!

That should about do it. If you wanted to make one of the above comments, don't worry — it's all been taken care of.

HymietownHero

When fun and inconveniencing others meet with a thumbs-up from the city! So, who's paying to truck in the sand and sod for these things?