Downtown Dallas adding dozens of parks on Friday

Annual event will temporarily transform parking spaces into community space

In cities around the globe on Friday, September 20, 2013 artists, activists and citizens will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces as part of an annual event called “PARK(ing) Day.” The event is intended to promote social interaction, civic engagement, critical thinking, and creativity through individual generosity and play.

For the third year Dallas area residents will transform permitted on-street parking spaces into nearly 50 miniature parks. Stretching several blocks along Main Street (between Field Street and St Paul Street) in downtown Dallas, participants will challenge the meaning of public space in an urban area. Visitors are encouraged to learn, play and interact within these spaces from 11:00am to 7:00pm. A Recycled Fashion Show will start the day at Pegasus Plaza (11:00am), and City Tavern will host the PARK(ing) Day after-party from 7:00pm–9:00pm.

PARK(ing) Day Dallas participants include: 1900 Elm Lofts; AIGA DFW; Architecture for Humanity; Art Conspiracy; Artistry By Gerard Claiborne; Beacon Montessori; City of Dallas Street Services; City of Dallas / Downtown Dallas Inc.; City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality; City of Dallas Waste Diversion; Corgan Associates Inc.; Dallas Center for Architecture; Dallas Holocaust Museum; Dallas Public Library; DogFit Dallas/Designed By Nature; Downtown Pawz; Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6; Erica Guajardo Illustrations; Feet First & Hair; Freshii; HKS; Jomae Productions; Manzanita Sol; MESA; metroARTS Corporation; Nasher Sculpture Center; Omniplan Architects; patrickm02L; Soap Creative; Studio Outside; Sunnyland Furniture; SWA Group; The University of Texas at Arlington Program in Landscape Architecture; Urban Armadillos/Preservation Dallas; Volunteer Center of North Texas; Which Wich Superior Sandwiches; and World Wear Project.

PARK(ing) Day is a free public event directed by community volunteers. Musical entertainment organized by Deep Dallas Music will showcase local entertainers in three performance areas and includes: Friday’s Foolery; Sugarfoote & Company; Signals and Alibis; Eddie Lott; Mike Freiley; The BoomBachs; Mary Harvey; Felix Flores; The Rhythm and Beards; Tony Rey; Joel Wells; Ann Stover; and Pearl Street Riot.

A full list of sponsors, participants and event details can be found here.