51 parking spaces around the city are being converted in to parks, plazas and dynamic destinations as part of Park(ing) Day NYC. The website claims "These small, temporary public spaces provide a breath of relief from
the auto-clogged reality of New York City, and aim to spark dialogue
about our valuable public space and how we choose to use it".
Events in the LES area include: The Time's Up/bikeblognyc space at 156 Rivington St./ between Clinton St. and Suffolk. The Community Design Park at Allen and Delancey, sponsored by Hester Street Collaborative, the Peace Park at 250 Mott St. and the Sustainable Seeds Park – Community gardeners and LES children build acommunity garden in a parking space (11th Street between Avenues B and C)
The annual event is sponsored by Transportation Alternatives and the Open Planning Project in conjunction with schools, architectural firms and civic groups from four boroughs. The event began in San Francisco in 2006 (although Transportation Alternatives took over a parking spot on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg before discovering "Park(ing) Day), and has since expanded to more than 100 cities in 20 countries.
