Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Park(ing) Day

Park-in-a-Box: Enter the Park(ing) Day NYC 2009 Design Competition

poppark.jpg

We've got a date for the third annual Park(ing) Day NYC festivities: September 18. For those unfamiliar with Park(ing) Day, it's kind of like the Christmas of livable streets. Or maybe Sukkot is a better analogy. Parking spaces all over the city will be converted to mini-parks and pedestrian zones. For a day, the potential to re-program space for cars as space for people feels much more tangible.

Each year the designs get a little more creative, and people in more cities participate. This time around there's a new wrinkle. Transportation Alternatives is organizing a competition called POP.Park in search of a portable, low-cost, pre-fab design for a Park(ing) spot conversion. These are the rules TA has laid out:

    • POP.Parks must fold into a box, reusable bag or tote that one person can carry whilewalking or riding public transportation.
    • Building materials that have little impact on the environment are encouraged.
    • When assembled, POP.Parks should be no larger than 8'x15' - the size of a parking spot.
    • Materials can be found or purchased, but must not exceed $20 in cost.

The deadline for entries is September 1, with finalists invited to set up their designs on Park(ing) Day. The winner will be selected, American Idol style, through a text message vote. Creative people: Feeling up to the challenge? Here are the details.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

EXCLUSIVE: City Will Let Mopeds Use Queensboro and Brooklyn Bridge Roadways

DOT hopes to prevent conflicts between moped and bike riders by allowing the former on the main roadways on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queensboro Bridge.

March 13, 2025

Chinatown Pols Renew Push for Cars on Park Row, But Residents Say No

Politicians say getting cars back on Park Row is their top priority — but locals don't want that.

March 13, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Sunset on the Capitol Edition

Sometimes on a slow news day in the city, it's worth heading downtown D.C. — where everything is on fire.

March 13, 2025

Cabbies Call Parking Fines Too Harsh, Demand More Dedicated Curb Space

The TLC hopes to target repeat offenders and make streets safer by increasing penalties for for-hire vehicle parking violations.

March 13, 2025

U.S. DOT Orders Review of All Grants Related to Green Infrastructure, Bikes

Now U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is coming for our bike lanes!

March 12, 2025
See all posts