(COLUMBIA, MO) -
On Friday, September 18, GetAbout Columbia, in partnership with Columbia Parks and Recreation, will join local downtown businesses to participate in PARK(ing) Day initiatives by designing "parklets." These mini-parks are created by transforming metered parking spots into temporary public spaces.
Launched in San Francisco in 2005 by Rebar, an art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day has since spread to cities around the world as residents, designers and businesses collaborate to create dialogue around public and private spaces.
Since 2005, the project has blossomed into a worldwide grassroots movement: PARK(ing) Day 2011 - the last year statistics were collected -- included 975 "PARK" installations in more than 160 cities in 35 countries on six continents. Though PARK(ing) Day no longer tracks the number of PARKs each year, the project continues to expand to urban centers across the globe.
Parklets are designed to provide temporary "green" space in an urban environment. They typically serve as a sidewalk extension and provide an opportunity for people to linger and socialize.
Parking meter fees apply to any business or organization wanting to participate. Columbia PARK(ing) Day "How-To" Manuals are available by calling 874-7460 or emailing .
About GetAbout Columbia (getaboutcolumbia.com): Funding for GetAbout Columbia is provided by the Federal Highway Administration's Non-Motorized Transportation Program. Education and encouragement programs are administered by the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department.
About PARK(ing) Day (parkingday.org): PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 and is an open-source Rebar invention created by hundreds of independent individuals and groups worldwide. "PARK(ing) Day" is a registered service mark of Rebar Group, Inc.
About Rebar (www.rebargroup.org): Founded in 2004 in San Francisco, Rebar is an internationally recognized art and design studio operating at the intersection of art, design and ecology.
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