Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Park[ing] Day L.A. Gets in Gear for September 16th

parkingday-sl-2010.jpg
A spot in Silver Lake set up during Park[ing] Day L.A. 2010 (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist)
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

"Streets are for people!" is the rally and battle cry of Park[ing] Day L.A., which is set to take place for the fifth year on Friday, September 16th. That's the day when "Park-itects" around Los Angeles will turn metered curbside parking spaces into mini-urban parks.

The goal of Park[ing] Day, which began in San Francisco in 2005, is to show urban-dwelling Americans that we could use a little more green space in the midst of our concrete jungles. The spaces transform into eclectic multi-purpose patches of land where visitors can find entertainment, information, relaxation, and community.

Lounge chairs, kiddie pools, ponds, food, music, conversation, plants, games...the spaces are as varied as our city's culture and an opportunity to get to know the people who live and work--and park--where you do, outside of our cars and busy lives.

The parks are still being planned for 2011, but we can expect a motif of "Edible Streets" illustrating the tension between urban gardeners and local government over land use for growing food and flowers. This year, Park[ing] Day will lead into another major local community event, ArtCyle, which takes place the next day on September 17th. Many of the "park-ticipants" will re-build their Park[ing] Day spaces on Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood.

Support for LAist comes from

Previously
Park[ing] Day L.A. 2010: East Hollywood & Silver Lake
Photos: Street off Hollywood Blvd. Transformed into a Pedestrian Plaza
Park[ing] Day Dreams on Brand
Park[ing] Day Spot in Studio City Offering Free Vegan Food

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist