A pop-up bike parking space on Ballard Ave. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.

Today marks the 10th year of the PARK(ing) Day movement, an international event which endeavors to highlight the need for more urban open spaces. PARK(ing) Day encourages people to transform car parking spaces into unique and temporary parks. The project has evolved and expanded since its inception by Rebar, a San Francisco-based design company, to inspire communities around the world to question the way public space is designed and utilized.

The focus on transforming the prized real-estate of a car parking space into a park for people to enjoy prompts us to consider the amount of space reserved for storing stationary cars, which could otherwise serve different purposes. The transformed spaces showcase community creativity to add color, life, and interest to the street, whilst also promoting participation in temporary forms of city design.

Today over 50 localities have transformed spaces for PARK(ing) Day across Seattle offering diverse experiences. Here is a snapshot of some of the PARK(ing) Day spaces in Ballard today. 

Seattle Urban Farm Company – 5307 Ballard Ave NW

The Seattle Urban Farm Company transformed a space adjacent to Bastille Cafe and Bar into a micro urban farm experience featuring crops, chickens and a free seed library. The team started developing the concept from May and in July started growing the crops for this installation.

Micro farm by Seattle Urban Farm Company. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.
Micro farm by Seattle Urban Farm Company. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.
Chickens enjoying the Seattle Urban Farm Company space on Ballard Ave. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.
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Seattle Urban Farm Company space. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.

Seattle Green Spaces Coalition – 2826 NW Market St

With a mission for creating opportunities for re-using city-owned public land for the benefit of communities, the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition created this colorful art space.

The Seattle Green Spaces Coalition PARK(ing) Day space provides a space for creativity.
The Seattle Green Spaces Coalition PARK(ing) Day space provides a space for creativity.

Seattle Design Festival – 5443 Ballard Ave NW

The Seattle Design Festival has created this intricate shelter which prompts people to think about the size of living spaces in Seattle.

Seattle Design Festival installation. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.
Seattle Design Festival installation. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.

Cascade Bicycle Club – 5210 Ballard Ave NW 

Some extra bicycle parking and greenery added to Ballard Ave highlights the opportunities for transforming small spaces to benefit cyclists.

A pop-up bike parking space on Ballard Ave. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.
A pop-up bike parking space on Ballard Ave. Photo by Sarah Oberklaid.

If you find any great PARK(ing) Day spaces, tag us on Twitter and we’ll retweet your photo. Hashtag for the day is #SEAParkingDay. PARK(ing) Day runs from 10 AM to 7 PM.

Article Author

Sarah is an urban planner and artist from Melbourne Australia, currently living in Seattle. She has contributed to diverse long-term projects addressing housing, transportation, community facilities, heritage and public spaces with extensive consultation with communities and other stakeholders. Her articles for The Urbanist focus on her passion for the design of sustainable, inviting and inclusive places, drawing on her research and experiences around the world.