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In the Mood for a Little PARK(ing) Today?
Announcement
PARK(ing) Day In-action, Downtown 1-3pm +/-
I was talking last night with a friend about how it has been a year since the first PARK(ing) Day celebration in Traverse City–time flies. This editor hasn’t been able to organize much effort around it this year, but guest contributor James Bruckbauer carved out sometime to throw a little action together for this afternoon.
He sent me this email today:
Hey,
A few of us will be working from parking spaces on Front Street today. Can you let people know about it? I picked up some lawn and a picket fence. It should be awesome.
As one of the founder’s of PARK(ing) Day, Matthew Passmore, says,“PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the urban landscape.”
Hope to see you.
–
Jim
For a little flavor of PARK(ing) Day last year in Traverse City, B.P. threw together this video capture of Henry and Jacqui.
Likely see you somewhere downtown Front St.
1-3pm
TC’s PARK(ing) Day Greeted with Mild Curiosity
PARK(ing)
Yesterday’s Traverse City version of PARK(ing) Day was successful. Meaning, those who participated had fun and those who passed by had something to ponder over lunch. That said, the most common reaction was indifference. Still, there were plenty of people who simply had to know what we were doing and one passerby even wondered if we were shooting a commercial. 
For the most part, there was wide support.
The city’s parking administrator stopped by to register his disapproval. He came with a lecture, more like banter bullet points, so full of holes it could fill the empty parking deck in Old Town. His basic misunderstandings were 1) that downtown is JUST a shopping mall (it’s a public space) and 2) that people need cars to get downtown to spend money.
We occupied at least 4 spaces, fully paid for, for close to 4-hours. Participants used the time to read, do work, socialize, eat lunch, golf, play the flute or play Chinese chess , Xiangqi (象棋). For the latter, we were actually fortunate to have Chinese tourists walk by just in time to set me straight on the rules. Thankfully, at least one of us knew Chinese.
Best of times and public space to all the people attending PARK(ing) events on Friday! To follow action from other Michigan cities, click-through to Let’s Save Michigan.
PARK(ing): Sites and sounds
In their parklet, Henry read up on the intricacies of the asphalt world while Jacqui was fluting. Bill Palladino pulled together some footage.
We were also honored by the presence of media icon Vic McCarty from vmacmedia turn-out with his video equipment in tow. Talent could have been better chosen, but the following piece is nicely done (Thanks Vic!).
- There are more images at the MyWHaT Facebook page.
- Bill Palladino’s Youtube account has a view more video’s from yesterday. Golf anyone?
Related Articles
- PARK(ing) Day 2010 Takes Place This Friday Around the World! (inhabitat.com)
The Weekly Chatter returns (for this week)
A community-supported blog, thank you.
A piece of Gandhi wisdom by Francesca Ramos via ↬ Curiosity Counts
Out of the blue: The Weekly Chatter:
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- Best headline: “When Cars Are Like Condoms (Or, Why I Love Transit)” (Diamond-Cut Life)
- Made in Detroit! Detroit Bikes (Globe and Mail)
BikeFacey
- Walkability, not just for neighborhoods anymore. Commercial districts and suburbs recognizing the need. (crosscut) Why? It’s in the math (Atlantic Cities)
- Yes, street vendors can sell more than food and be cool (KUHF)
- Celebrating Seattle’s messy streets (Atlantic Streets) Grid Shmid…
The explorers and pioneers who imagined The Grid here were, in short, madmen, or drunks, bless them.
- An app built for a crash (iTunes) App helps you record all the needed information in case of a crash.
- Speaking of crashes, watch out for that right hook! (Post Gazette) …”cars are four times more likely to sideswipe a bicycle while turning than the other way around“
- Chicago streets go skinny for safety (Grid Chicago)
It’s September 21, 2012. Happy Park(ing) Day! (No plans here, you?)
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“In the best parks, people take off their shoes.”~ @Fred_Kent
For more steady collection of planning geekdom and related material, hit the MyWHaT Tumblr.
Have a weekend.
Blank Here
