Parks grow out of parking spaces this Friday

Temporary parks will be popping up all around Seattle this coming Friday for a global event called “PARK(ing)” day.

A 2009 “PARK(ing) spot in Greenwood.

The event, sponsored by Feet First, allows people to “grow” parks out of parking spots. “The average city dedicates about 20 percent of its public land to the movement and storage of automobiles, including roads and parking,” the press release from Feet First states. “PARK(ing) Day shows city residents what urban space can look and feel like when more public land is allocated for parks, art, recreation, social interactions, and other people-centric pursuits—rather than vehicles.

Salmon Bay School will be hosting two “PARK(ing)” spots in front of the Ballard Library (5614 22nd Ave NW) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other “PARKs” around the city can be found here (.pdf.)

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

30 thoughts to “Parks grow out of parking spaces this Friday”

  1. I guess those savings might be significant if you work at Kinkos and you’d certainly have the kind of job where sitting on a street for 9-3pm on a weekday wouldn’t be a waste of your productivity.

  2. That’s a fun idea…. but I hope they hire some local bums to stand in the parking spaces so we can get the authentic ‘pocket park’ experience!

  3. That’s a fun idea…. but I hope they hire some local bums to stand in the parking spaces so we can get the authentic ‘pocket park’ experience!

  4. I really want to trash-talk the haters, because I think things like this are fun and worthwhile. But 9-3 on a weekday seems pretty ludicrous to me, too. I won’t even get to see any of these.

    So, haters, carry on, carry on.

  5. Apparently BM,WL thinks that the students and faculty from Salmon Bay *School* are slackers and layabouts.

    Funny that he’s got the time to be “barking” up here, while I don’t see any Salmon Bay School folks obsessively scanning MyBallard.

    Elsewhere these can run from 9am-5pm, probably based on permitting, and not on some green conspiracy against working folk.

    But you haters keep up with that productivity you’re so clearly displaying!

  6. In front of the library. Great idea, inconvenience stay-at-home parents taking their kids to the library for the afternoon. Why not also take some handicap spots too while you’re at it?

    I mean, if you’re going to make life hard for parents, why stop there and go after the elderly and handicapped too?

  7. I accidentally clicked liked, I meant to click reply. Have you ever been to the Ballard library? I go all the time, and I have yet to see the parking garage full.

  8. Yes maybe we’ll steal parking spots from the elderly and then run them over. And then throw it into reverse and run them over again for good measure.

    You called it, Fred. You are a real asset to the neighborhood! Idiot.

  9. I just want to point out that PARK(ing) Day is a global event that always occurs on the third Friday of September. Also, the hours of 9am to 3pm were set by the City of Seattle through the permitting process. Would it be more convenient on a weekend or in the evening? Maybe, but this is how PARK(ing) Day goes down all over the world every year. Come out and enjoy it!

  10. I’m gonna get the spot next to it and sit there in the SUV with my engine idling….nothing more fun than watching the preachy get uptight.

  11. I just find the whole concept ridiculous. I’m sure there were plenty of vehicles involved in the transporting of said garden’s plants, supplies, etc. I’d much rather see an elementary school using existing school space to actually plant real, permanent gardens, the kids would feel so much pride and sense of ownership to have plots of land to tend to, produce to share with food banks, community building while growing things.

    As for parking spaces, isn’t using a street parking space to access the shops, parks, public services (libraries/neighborhood service center/post office), and other amenities that Ballard has to offer a good thing? Seriously, not everyone is fortunate enough to live within walking distance, or has the desire to take the bus. The last time I tried taking my children on the bus into downtown Ballard (via the 44), the stench and behaviors we endured were very strong deterrents to want to hop on again to be “green”! The notion that we can “rid” the use of cars by creating more “public spaces” is wishy-washy and what makes people laugh at Seattle.

  12. The car haters are more interested in forcing others to tolerate their politically correct nonsense than they are in promoting business acivity in our neighborhood. They think everyone should ride a bike or walk, shopping be damned.

  13. Nothing says “car-dependent” like kvetching about the loss of 2 flipping parking spots for one day a year in front of the library, for a bit of creative fun with the space.

    But where will the elderly park???? Will Bartell survive?!? And what about the yarn store? The yarn stooooooooooooore! Must. Have. More. PARKINGGGGGG!

    Oh, wait. I take that back. I think this is a SAFETY issue. What are they thinking? A Ballard Oil truck could back over the Salmon Bay School spot! Warren Aakervik’s insurance is going up just thinking about it!!! How will they stay open? Those are good local jobs, you crazy car-hating hippies!

  14. Me work on BOATS! Me hate hippies and Mother Earth instead me buy SUV and me buy gas from Hugo Chavez and Saudi royal family and me and Hugo and slanty eyes like burn gas for no good reason because caring about the environment is beyond me mental capacity!!!

  15. Kinkos huh? Ceased to exist 3 years ago but hey don’t let that get in the way of your dramatically dumb and hopelessly cluelesss and out-of-date insights on the modern world.

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