Anyone can participate in PARK(ing) Day, though it is strictly a non-commercial project, intended to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, unscripted social interactions, generosity and play.
Courtenay Place, Wellington, 18 Sept 2009
About NZ park(ing) day
Park(ing) day comes to New Zealand on 18 September 2009. For one day, metered car parking spaces in diverse locations will be transformed into temporary public parks. Park(ing) day started as an annual one-day event in San Francisco. It has now spread globally. It is free to adapt in local communities, as long as it remains a noncommercial activity and its origins are honoured (see www.rebargroup.org).
This information sheet has been developed by Intersect to assist park(ing) day in New Zealand.
The event is being designed to create “people-friendly cities”, by encouraging people to: • be curious about the urban spaces we inhabit • realise how many of our urban spaces are designed around cars • consider what a people-friendly city could look like • give time, and play an active part, in creating spaces we enjoy being in.
Who is creating these spaces? Many people and organisations are collaborating on spaces for park(ing) day. Design and co-ordination is being hosted on the Intersect Network, but anyone can get involved in a way that suits them.
What could a people-friendly city look like? We encourage people to explore this for themselves. Some suggestions are that they: • have lots of open spaces • are safe and fun for cycling • are great places for people to wander around by foot • are easy for people with limited mobility to get around • smell good, with lots of fresh air • are productive places (e.g. places for growing food) • are places where people can find meaningful work • have spaces for both peace and loudness • encourage laughter, joy and happiness.
Local and global connections People-friendly cities can also be climatefriendly cities. Active forms of getting around, such as walking and cycling, are inherently climate-friendly. Open spaces can be used for absorbing carbon through growing trees and plants. It is also useful to explore how good design can encourage friendly interactions and connect people with the wider environment we are part of.
NZ Park(ing) Day 09 Let us be grateful to people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. (Proust)
Some important things to know • Money needs to be inserted in the parking meters for these park(ing) spaces. • It is good to encourage the public to “give time” for spaces they enjoy by putting money in the meters. • If anyone wishes to include a vehicle in a space, a bicycle makes a good choice. The parking coupon can be displayed on the bikeʼs dashboard (aka the handlebars). If the tyres get chalked by a parking warden, the bike can be replaced by another one when the maximum time limit is reached. • In the spirit of creating a people-friendly city, it is good to be friendly to parking wardens. Why not welcome them with open arms and offer them some sweet treats? • Businesses are welcome to support park(ing) day (e.g. via sponsorship), so long as the spaces are not primarily used for self-promotion. Adding a sign (from the resources below) to promote the purpose of the event is a useful way to ensure this. Support materials available • Many more resources are available on the international park(ing) day website at www.parkingday.org.nz • A detailed guide is available at http:// www.rebargroup.org/projects/parking/src/ PARK(ing)_Manual.pdf • Publicity resources adapted for New Zealand are available at http:// intersect.ning.com/group/parking. This material includes a poster to stick in each park(ing) space and a small poster to place on parking meters and/or a bucket to collect money for parking meter money.