Casey Trees’ (PARK)ing Day setup in 2012. Photo courtesy Casey Trees.

Casey Trees’ (PARK)ing Day setup in 2012. Photo courtesy Casey Trees.

Earlier today, tiny pop-up parks emerged for a few hours in parking spaces across the city as part of the annual world wide event known as PARK(ing) Day.

From 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., typically unspectacular concrete spaces were transformed into mini parks for people to gather and hang out at. Over at 1700 K Street NW, Casey Trees, a non-profity agency that protects and enhances the city’s tree canopy, had their own little makeshift park with tree boxes, a game called Ginkgo Plinko, and relaxation spots for visitors.

Of course, Casey Trees was just one of many that participated in PARK(ing) Day around the District. Here’s a roundup of some photos shared on Twitter of other pocket parks that popped up around town today:

Although we have to wait a full year before we can see concrete slabs transformed into kitschy little parks again, there’s a group trying to make it a permanent thing. ParkletDC is pushing to transform various parking spots around the city into permanent mini-parks for “sitting, reading, relaxing and conversing,” according to the group’s website.

Washington DC has lots of big parks, but most are far from where we live, work and play. And our sidewalks provide only limited public space.

Parklets could allow us to have a park on every block. Studies of Parklet installation in San Francisco showed parklets have increased pedestrian traffic, benefited small business and provided space for neighbors to get to know one another with very minimal impact.

ParkletDC says that many other cities have created a “Pavement to Parks program,” which would allow business owners and citizens to sponsor a parklet, but there’s nothing like that in D.C. ParkletDC is urging supporters to reach out to Mayor Gray, the City Council. and the Office of Planning to urge them to “initiate a Pavement to Parks program.”

DCist reached out to ParkletDC to get more information, but a request for comment has not yet been returned.

Update: Travis Moore, one of the co-founders of ParkletDC, says the group is new and fairly small at the moment. They launched a Change.org petition, which they will eventually deliver to Mayor Vincent Gray and other city leaders, today calling for the city to create a program.

“I think there needs to be some support for it from the outside,” Moore said, adding that he will try to connect with businesses who may be interested in sponsoring a parklet. Moore said in other cities the businesses or community groups pay for the space and the upkeep. “If the neighborhood doesn’t want to use a parking space or two for a parklet, they don’t have to,” Moore said.

“D.C. is kind of behind the curve on this one,” Moore said, noting that other cities (even Dallas!) already have this program.

Filed Under: casey trees, parking day, parklet dc,