From Park to PARK

If you walked around the city of San Francisco today, you would notice some parking spaces have been converted into temporary public open spaces. Rebar, the designers and activists behind PARK(ing) Day, wanted to create an additional 24,000 square feet of public space. What better (and cheaper) way to do it then to rent on a minute-to-minute basis on a parking meter? By turning these spaces into places where people could socialize and relax, Rebar felt they can “improve the quality of urban human habitat…at least until the meters run out.”

Here’re some images of the first installations in November 2006 that have inspired PARK(ing) Days in other cities, and countries including Scotland and Italy. It doesn't have to be PARK(ing) Day for you to create your own open space. Check out Rebar's "How to" Manual on turning a parking spot into a public space.