PARK(ing) Day Calgary
PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event where citizens, artists and designers collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces – temporary public spaces. The project aims to encourage critical thought and to spark our imaginations about how public spaces can be used.
The City, in partnership with the Alberta Association of Landscape Architects, has encouraged Citizens, students, artists, design firms and organizations to take over on-street parking stalls and convert them into creative public spaces. These great locations include main streets and pedestrian corridors – places where there is an increased need for public space.
Where: Locations in the Beltline, Inglewood, Kensington, Forest Lawn, Crescent Heights and the East Village
Date: September 18-20, 2020
Last year, in light of the unknowns and current circumstances, we took the opportunity to try something different. PARK(ing) Day was hosted apart, throughout the city. PARK(ing) Day was expanded from one to three days to allow for Calgarians to visit and explore PARK(ing) spaces around the city in a socially distanced manner.
Locations
- The Sleepwalk – Thomson Family Park (12 Street S.W. – between 15 and 16 Avenue)
The Sleepwalk reminisces on the state of being in-between: slumber and wakefulness, interior and exterior, fiction and reality. Within the distorted house-like structure, pedestrians are invited to explore beauty in the mundane – to walk, to sit, and ponder in this strange garden.
- Woodscape – Tomkins Park (16 Avenue S.W.)
“Play” is a crucial part of a child’s physical, social and cognitive development. Woodscape is a pathway of recycled tree stumps sitting atop a landscape of mulch and plants that will give kids the sense that they are walking through a wild and natural woodland.
- Silent Disco – Tomkins Park (16 Avenue S.W.)
Come down and snap a photo with the silent disco on 17th Avenue. This interactive space allows users to get right in the action all while keeping a social distance. Get dancing next to the cardboard cutouts that speak to your inner disco style.
- Air Hug – Tomkins Park (16 Avenue S.W.)
"Air Hug" is the reminder of the connections we hold dear to our hearts. Inspired by Instagram worthy backgrounds, people can take a selfie and send a virtual hug to loved ones.
- M-OD-OFI Environment – Simmons Building (618 Confluence Way S.E.)
M-OD-OFI Environment is a modular outdoor office environment designed to spur creativity, collaboration and connection in public space. As a response to the current conversations being had around the future of workspace, need for social connection, and environmental sustainability, the M-OD-OFI Environment installation challenges traditional static private workspaces.
- You Belong in Crescent Heights Village – 919 Centre Street N.W. - *Only open Saturday, 1-4 p.m.*
Crescent Heights is for everyone – let us know your identity and share what inclusiveness is, right in the heart of our community.
- Home is Where the Health Is – 1130 Kensington Road N.W.
Street CCRED is partnering with the Calgary Drop-In Centre to highlight the importance of housing to improve the health of Calgary citizens. The intention is to setup a ‘home’ in the allotted parking space with furniture and other household items provided by the DI’s Donation Centre.
- Educating for Equity – Cumming School of Medicine (3330 Hospital Drive N.W.)
Indigenous family doctor and researcher Dr. Lindsay Crowshoe describes an ideal clinical relationship as the feeling of sitting on a park bench getting to know somebody, as equals. The park bench represents this concept. A sign at the site will invite people to contribute, asking "What would an inclusive space around the park bench look like?"
- International Avenue Unity Through Community – 3505 17 Avenue S.E.
We have collected 42 endearing comments from community members and business owners which we will be printing and suspending from a frame. In the centre is a space for community members to post more positive comments about what they love about International Avenue and central east Calgary. This colourful, positive display is for and by the community, encouraging people to take pride in where they live.