PARK(ing) Day is an annual, global event, activists, artists and everyday citizens collaborate to transform city-wide parking spots into temporary public parks – “PARK(ing)” spaces, if you will. The fourth annual PARK(ing) Day is Friday, September 18th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Originally started by San Francisco art and design collective Rebar, the project illustrates how cities use their urban public space in a creative and memorable way (apparently 70 percent of San Francisco’s downtown outdoor city-scape belongs to vehicles, while little is allocated for public areas).

Seattle’s PARK(ing) Day is being organized by Feet First, a Seattle-based advocacy organization dedicated to promoting walkable communities. In 2008 Seattle hosted 32 (PARK)ing spaces. This year organizers hope to get over 50! And they’re looking for community members to bring this event to neighborhoods all over the city, including our very own Queen Anne.

Anyone can make one of these public parks. All it takes is a few forms, a $10 entrance fee, some imagination, a bit of ingenuity, and a day to set-up and enjoy your creation. Past themes vary from zen gardens…

…to exercise arenas…

…to off-the-wall modern art!

Interested in designing your own parking spot? You’re in luck! Feet First has extended it’s application deadline until this Friday, August 28th. For more information see the event page here. Feet First has provided an easy to use “how to” guide for making your own (PARK)ing space.

Click here to download the (PARK)ing space guidelines, here for a standard park layout plan and here for the Feet First Street Use Application.

If you don’t make it by the Friday deadline, never fear, you can still have your PARK(ing) spot (it’s just going to cost you a bit more). See the Seattle Department of Transportation website for more details.

Depending on the spot you pick, you may need meter hood permit and a notification of temporary no parking zone form.

Contact Feet First representative, Kirk, at Kirk@feetfirst.info for more information. (He’s the go-to guy on permits, questions, etc.)