Just in time for fall, business owners in the District will once again get the chance to liven up their urban properties on PARK(ing) Day between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sept. 15.

The annual celebration, which began in San Francisco in 2005 and is now observed internationally, challenges proprietors to temporarily transform a metered parking spot into a garden, scenic sitting area, or any other feat of creativity within the barriered limits of the spot.

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The goal of the project, the D.C. Department of Transportation said during a June presentation, is to “shift the way public space is perceived and utilized.”

This year’s event will return to the style of years’ past after COVID-19 restrictions necessitated smaller celebrations during 2021 and 2020.Those who want to participate have until Friday, Aug. 26, to apply for a temporary occupancy permit from DDOT. Participants must also adhere to a number of safety regulations related to appropriate parking spaces and approved space barriers. More information can be found on the department website.

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Arlington will get its own iteration of PARK(ing) Day on Sept. 16, the applications for which are due Aug. 31. In 2019, 12 local businesses and agencies there created parklets with themes like “Beach Oasis” and “Zen Garden.”