Westfield Parks and Recreation will transform a parking space today into a public park, as part of an annual event called “PARK(ing) Day.” The parking space will be located at 137 W. Main Street in front of My Logo Shop. People are encouraged to visit the space and share photos with the Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau on Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtag #ParkingDay.
Hamilton County has more than 4,000 acres of park and park like land at its attractions set aside for use, in addition to more than a dozen trail systems. Green space is an important aspect of quality of place, and the communities in Hamilton County have made it a priority. National Park(ing) Day was born to raise awareness about the value of green space, and to encourage communities to take back their urbanized areas. In Hamilton County, our installation of eight parks throughout the county in parking lots is to remind residents and visitors just how important green space is in helping make a community a great place to live, as well as visit.
Originally invented in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day challenges people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure. “In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” says Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The planning strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the urban landscape.”