Across the world Friday, people are reserving parking spaces not for their cars, but to re-imagine the possibilities of the urban landscape.
Navigating into a parking spot is not the easiest thing to do. The SUV next to you is over the line... again, and the sports car on the other side is taking up two spots. And in front of you... are a bunch of people among some bushes that were not there yesterday.
In 2005, a San Francisco-based art and design studio created "PARKing Day" to make people think about the way streets and urban areas are used. The company has since closed its doors, but that hasn't stopped fellow enthusiasts around the country- or around town from continuing the mission.
And today is Parking day.
"So we hijacked this parking stall, and we put a park in it, to promote the importance of having open spaces and recreational area for people to enjoy. We feel like there's too much parking places and not enough places for just a nice, beautiful park."
Jason Parkinson is a student in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Department at Utah State University. He and others took four parking stalls on campus, and turned them into mini-parks. One featured a camping theme, with chairs, logs, a fish pond, and hot chocolate. Another park featured spike-ball, a game where you bounce a yellow ball off a circular net on the ground.
"More people need to be outside enjoying the outdoors. I think more and more technology is taking over, people are inside working on computers, their phones. There's just so much more out there and you can enjoy it in the outdoors," Parkinson said.
As you walk around town this evening, say hi to the people among the bushes.