975 PARKs / 162 Cities / 35 Countries / 6 Continents…
Although PARK(ing) Day may seem like a long way off, there isn’t a better time than now to formulate a plan and to get Buffalo on the PARK(ing) Day map. PARK(ing) Day is Friday, September 21 2012. That day will be dedicated to those who feel that utilizing a parking spot for most anything other than a car is a good idea. The idea started in 2005 in San Francisco, where a parking spot is prime real estate dedicated to the car. Since the cars sit all day taking up space, the question was asked, “If one can reserve a parking spot by throwing a coin in the meter, then why not reserve that same spot to make a creative statement?”
Of course Buffalo does not have the parking problem that San Francisco has, but that doesn’t mean that a creative person in Buffalo couldn’t join the international movement. As cities get more and more crowded, (any) land becomes more and more desirable. The PARK(ing) Day site notes that “… in addition to being quite a bit of fun, PARK(ing) Day has effectively re-valued the metered parking space as an important part of the commons – a site for generosity, cultural expression, socializing and play.” If you think about it, PARK(ing) Day doesn’t have to be only one day a year… that’s kinda the point. It is however a day that garners support for a movement that puts people first and cars second.
The beautiful thing about PARK(ing) Day is that it’s easy and it’s almost free. For a few quarters you can reserve a spot to set up a chess set and chairs, an impromptu garden, an easel… or invite your friends to join you for a bike rally and picnic. As far as I know there are no City ordinances that state that you are required to park a car after you throw money in a meter. The space is simply yours to do as you please – you’re basically renting a spot. That means that you can be as creative as you want – not to say that The City will understand what it is that you’re doing. Just remember that you’re not alone and each year more people in more cities are celebrating this ‘pay to play’ initiative.
Photos and slide show: Park(ing) Day