Green carpets were rolled out this morning for people, boggling the minds of those who had never heard of PARK(ing) Day before. Though anybody can participate in this worldwide event by simply taking over metered parking spaces, Hartford’s first ever PARK(ing) Day was organized.
We were told that the sod, brought in by KNOX, would be re-used in some way during EnvisionFest this weekend. Because of the limited hours we were unable to see everything, but here’s a glimpse at some ways Downtown’s streets and a parking lot transformed earlier on Friday:
Shortly after setting down some sod, two vehicles attempted to park on it, one of the event planners told me.
On the next block of Trumbull Street, I spoke with the “bs” artists who told me that the Hartford Parking Authority was more relaxed than on the average day.
The surface parking lot at the corner of Asylum and Main/Pratt and Main has been in need of something more creative than parking for years. Today, it experienced a small dose of that something.
On Pearl Street, a park was created in front of the Greater Hartford Welcome Center.
On Main Street, a temporary park was created that nobody would want to try driving over.
Were you able to check out any of the mini parks today? Would you want to design one next September?
Richard
I like the dumpster the best. It is a complete work of art and beside being beautiful asks nothing more of people than to sit right down and take a load off their feet. A few of the others are just a bit too arty for me but I like the idea very much.
Real Hartford » Dead Space Revived Near Vacant Building
[…] parks were assembled on streets to last a few hours today, another temporary park was being set up in front of the vacant tower at Pearl and Main. Knox Parks […]
Robin Zaleski
I like the whole idea, a nice way to inject a jolt of whimsy in an otherwise humdrum, utilitarian space. I especially love the dumpster and hope that it gets moved to the sidewalk and becomes a permanent feature. The sidewalk there is certainly wide enough to accommodate it and it is far better looking than any of the nearby bus shelters.