For the first time ever, downtown Los Altos will be a participant in a worldwide annual event called PARK(ing) Day, which this year falls on Friday, September 21. On PARK(ing) Day, citizens transform urban parking spaces into temporary public parks, to raise awareness of the need for more pedestrian-friendly green space in our communities. The concept originated in 2005 with a single installation by a San Francisco art and design studio called Rebar. Their idea was simple: of the roughly 25-30% of a city's land area that is occupied by roads and parking spaces, couldn't some of this publicly-owned land be converted for higher and better use as public gathering space? This first "parklet," or mini-park, was so successful that in addition to PARK(ing) Day becoming a regular annual event that now has participation from over 162 cities in 35 countries over 6 continents, San Francisco has codified a permanent parklet program called Pavement to Parks - read more for details.
Check out downtown Los Altos' PARK(ing) Day installation description on the PARK(ing) Day interactive map, and see where other installations are being built nearby!
Our downtown Los Altos PARK(ing) Day installation will feature many materials generously donated by local businesses. Furuichi Bothers are lending potted plants, and Pete Moffat Construction will provide a series of modular planter walls that protect people from passing cars. Passerelle will be providing bike racks and a green space featuring SynLawn with movable seating and tables. There will also be a free bicycle Fix-It station where you can tune up your bike with tools and mount provided! And, make sure to bring your creativity, because there will be chalkboard walls where anyone from the young to the young at heart can draw to their hearts’ delight. The space will be completely open to the public all day for use by anyone: kids, grown-ups, well-behaved pets, bicycles, you name it!
Come check out downtown Los Altos’ inaugural PARK(ing) Day installation (designed by Base Landscape Architecture), and be sure to spread the word by liking / +1-ing / tweeting this post!
When: 6AM – 10PM Friday, September 21, 2012
Where: 359 (bike shop), 363 (Christian), and 367 (Peet’s) State Street, Los Altos CA 94022
What: A 3-stall parklet with 1 bike rack stall and 2 seating pod stalls, with walls for chalk and magnet art, and a bike fix-it station.
Why: It’s fun, and our community needs more green and pedestrian friendly space!
In addition, 359 State will also be holding Los Altos Bike & Art Charity event in conjunction with the PARK(ing) Day celebration. Click on the link for more information. We hope to see you there!