As part of the international event Park[ing] Day 2010, more than a dozen parking spaces in the Los Angeles area were converted into pop-up parks and places to learn, discuss, relax, play, work, and enjoy. To see what some participants had set up for their spaces, we headed out to East Hollywood and Silver Lake and visited four Park[ing] spaces.
The East Hollywood Neighborhood Council was set up at Santa Monica Boulevard near Virgil. Offering passers-by free tamales, a spot to sit in the shade, and the opportunity to discuss ideas for converting a portion of the city's light yard--right where the spaces were set up--into a park, this spot was all about community. Just a few spots down a group of artists had their native plant park set up, and beautiful hand-drawn and hand-written materials about native chaparral in L.A. There, visitors were invited to drink Sage Lemonade and try their creative hand at drawing what they thought would be a fitting park for the area.
In the Sunset "Triangle" in Silver Lake at Griffith Park Blvd. and Sunset, a group of gentlemen representing the communal workspace club WHERE had more of a lounge approach to Park[ing], with comfy chairs and couches set up for relaxing, reading, and a friendly game of chess. We had a fun little chat with the Silver Lake Five Dollar Guy.
At Sunset right outside the restaurant Local, Alissa Walker and Marissa Gluck of deLaB were getting some work done in their "pocket park," and chatting with visitors.
There didn't seem to be a lot of "what are you doing?" moments or looks of incredulity from people stopping by, but rather a lot of people were taking the time to learn, engage, and discuss ways to make our city a better place. With parking spots plentiful and open for everyone to use around each and every one of these four spaces during the afternoon, there didn't seem to be any rivalry between the drivers and the folks who want to get a little more green space into our bustling, urban environment.
