Archived News Release: September 17, 2018 - Please note, this event is cancelled due to the unfavorable
weather conditions in the forecast.
The City of Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and SmithGroup are collaborating to celebrate a global event that temporarily transforms metered parking spaces into open, public spaces. Known as PARK(ing) Day, this one-day initiative is part of an effort to foster collaborations among artists, community members, activists, designers and students to explore alternative uses of parking spaces in our city.
Designed and built by landscape architects at SmithGroup, an integrated design firm with an office in Ann Arbor, the two metered parking spaces will be located at 117 E. Liberty St. in front of Roos Roast Liberty on Friday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
SmithGroup has come up with an interactive idea to engage people on the importance of public spaces through storytelling, exploring people's connection to their favorite public spaces and why they resonate with those spaces. The goal is to create a small park where passers-by can share a story and reminisce about their favorite open spaces.
“Parking Day is a great opportunity to reimagine the potential for expanding public space in our downtown streets," said Derek Delacourt, City of Ann Arbor community services area administrator.
To learn more about this global effort, visit http://parkingday.org/.
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