park(ing) day chicago!

Friday was Park(ing) Day! Park(ing) Day began in 2005 with an installation by architecture & design firm Rebar ("interdisciplinary studio operating at the intersection of art, design and activism") based in San Francisco.  It has since grow to worldwide movement that encourages civic participation in reimagining our urban  infrastructure to include greater focus on open, green public spaces, versus our current car-centric urban landscapes.

In Chicago, architecture firm Moss Design, along with industrial design firm Strand Design, conceived of "urban park" in two parking spots outside Southport Grocery.

Video interview from WBEZ blog with Matt Nardella of Moss Design, the sustainable design studio in Lakeview on the making of and concept behind their parking spot design.

PARKing Day from WBEZ on Vimeo.

There doesn't seem to be as much critical mass behind the movement in Chicago as in other cities - haven't heard much about other groups/individuals participating in Chicago. I did get a note through my UIC listserv that the Urban Planning department there was leading an initiative on campus.

Park(ing) Day is particularly pertinent to Chicago with the recent heavily contested deal to privatize metered parking throughout the city.

Some shots from other cities, various years:

Original Park(ing) Day in San Francisco, 2005

Chicago, 2007

Honolulu, 2008

New York, 2008

Portland, 2009

UPDATE: Just received images of UIC's parking day this year. Wish I'd made it!

More here.