From the City of Seattle 

SEATTLE – The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) invites the public to the City’s 11^th annual PARK(ing) Day, on Friday, September 15, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. PARK(ing) Day is a worldwide event that aims to raise awareness about the importance of a sustainable, livable and healthy city. On PARK(ing) Day, artists, designers and citizens will temporarily transform on-street parking spots around the city into fun, creative public spaces.

“PARK(ing) Day is a chance for people to get creative in rethinking how our streets can be used,” said SDOT Director Scott Kubly. “And sitting in a pop-up park or painting in an art installation is a great way for people to connect in neighborhoods across the city.”

On Friday, September 15, a total of 51 pop-up projects around the City will include games, art, landscaping, furnishings and more. On our PARK(ing) Day webpage, there is a map of this year’s installations so people can plan out which pop-up parks they want to visit, and a picture gallery of creative parks from previous PARK(ing) Days. Participating neighborhoods include South Park, Columbia City, Georgetown, downtown Seattle, Lake City and many others. SDOT’s official PARK(ing) Day installation will be in Northgate.

PARK(ing) Day has grown from a single two-hour park in San Francisco in 2005 to an international event held in over 160 cities. On the third Friday of every September, PARK(ing) Day helps people explore creative uses of public streets. The focus of the event is on building community and supporting positive activation of public spaces. Seattle has participated in PARK(ing) Day since 2007.

A direct outgrowth of PARK(ing) Day is Seattle’s Parklet and Streatery Program. Parklets convert a small number of on-street parking spaces into public spaces on a more permanent basis and help to activate streets, promote economic vitality, and create more vibrant neighborhoods. Streateries do the same while allowing restaurants and cafes to offer table service in the parklet. These spaces are all privately funded and maintained by the hosting businesses or organizations.

To learn more about these Parklets and Streateries, please visit: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/parklets.htm.

For PARK(ing) Day information please visit: https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/seattleparkingday.htm.