Parking Day Tips

Park(ing) Day Tips

This year, we organized a Park(ing) Day activation, and we have tips for you!

The Avenue Road – Creative Drawing – Park(ing) Day Activation transformed a parking spot into a vibrant community space that fostered creativity and social interaction. By providing art supplies, such as easels and pastels, the event encouraged people of all ages to engage in artistic expression, promoting a sense of community as participants created and shared their work. The inclusion of seating areas, bubble stations, and chalk art made the event accessible and engaging for everyone, including families with children. This activation reimagined public spaces as creative hubs, inspiring innovative thinking about urban spaces. It also encouraged social interaction, helping to strengthen neighbourhood bonds through shared activities. By showcasing the unique creativity of the Annex and Yorkville community, the event enhanced local identity and pride. Additionally, it offered children a fun and educational experience, helping to develop their critical thinking and motor skills while providing an enjoyable and memorable time. Overall, the activation served as a dynamic and inclusive environment that positively impacted the community by fostering creativity, encouraging social connections, and promoting public engagement. #Parkingday #ParkingDay2024

Here are some tips for next year!

Park(ing) Day Tip #1:

Select a location that suits your activity, or choose an activity that suits your location!

The location’s characteristics can significantly enhance the event’s atmosphere and engagement. In our case, the site’s colourful wall, greenery, benches, and high pedestrian traffic were free assets that naturally complemented the activity. Here is why!

1. Visual Appeal and Inspiration: The backdrop of trees, plantings, and the artistic wall is aesthetically pleasing and encourages creativity, making it a perfect match for a painting or creative event. The environment inspires participants and adds to the overall experience.

2. Engagement and Participation: The high pedestrian and bike traffic increases visibility, which can lead to curiosity and spontaneous participation from passersby. It turns the event into a public spectacle that draws in more people, boosting interaction.

3. Comfort and Convenience: Benches allow for relaxation and create a space where people can linger, whether they are participants or spectators. Parents can sit comfortably while watching their children, and couples or individuals can enjoy the surroundings, making it a more inclusive space.

4. Cost Efficiency: Utilizing the site’s natural features, such as the plants, benches, and pedestrian flow, is cost-effective. These elements are already present and add value without increasing expenses, making it an ideal site for an event with budget constraints.

In the image, a vibrant tree stands at the center, its leaves gleaming in hues of green, stretching upward against a glowing yellow background. The roots, swirling in a mix of reds and purples, twist and coil into the earth as if grounding the tree in rich, fertile soil. The background is awash with warm, swirling yellow orbs, creating a dreamlike glow reminiscent of sunlight or an abstract representation of energy. A soft blue shade surrounds the tree, giving it a serene, sky-like atmosphere. This whimsical artwork radiates life and growth, the delicate balance of roots and leaves symbolizing a connection between earth and sky, stability and expansion.

A composite image showcasing a creative street setting with a vibrant wall decorated with zig-zag patterns and hearts. A bench is placed in front of the wall, enhancing the aesthetic appeal.

Park(ing) Day Tip #2:

Improve the community

It creates a sense of belonging, connection, and shared ownership of the space. This goes beyond a temporary installation and encourages community engagement. Here’s why making an impact matters:

1. Reclaiming Public Spaces: We transformed an area often used for smoking into a vibrant, clean, and safe environment, allowing the community to reclaim and enjoy the space.

2. Addressing Local Issues: By addressing illegal parking and cleaning up the area, we earned the appreciation of local residents who have struggled with these problems for years. It’s about creating solutions for the community!

3. Bringing People Together: Families, neighbours, and friends connected through art, play, and conversations, turning the space into a hub of connection. Kids made new friends, and the community felt united!

The image features an artwork resting on an easel, placed outdoors on a quiet, sunlit street surrounded by greenery. The artwork itself is an abstract, imaginative piece, featuring a central, flowing form that resembles a mystical creature or wave of energy. Its body is a mix of vibrant greens and yellows, with intricate, scale-like textures transitioning into soft, feathered wings or fins in shades of pink, blue, and purple. Surrounding this figure are two cloud-like, swirling shapes in a rich blue, giving the impression of wind or water in motion. Below the artwork, a small set of colorful pastel crayons rests at the base of the easel, indicating that the piece is still in progress.

Park(ing) Day Tip #3:

Name your Parking Day Activation Correctly

By choosing the right name, you ensure clear communication, foster trust, and maximize participation—essentials for the success of your Parking Day activation.

1. Clarity and Trust: A clear and recognizable name, like a well-known intersection or landmark, immediately communicates the event’s location and helps people trust the information. Using a more specific or lesser-known name, such as a private residence address, can lead to confusion and make the event seem informal or unverified.

2. Encouraging Participation: A name that accurately reflects the event’s location or purpose makes it easier for people to find and participate. People might second-guess attending if the name is too specific or unclear, especially if it feels too personal or unfamiliar.

3. Building Credibility: A well-chosen name lends professionalism and legitimacy to your event. It signals to the community that this is a well-planned and organized public initiative, not just a private gathering, thus encouraging broader engagement and interest.

The image depicts a pastel artwork set up on an easel along a city street. The drawing portrays a serene, outdoor space, possibly a small urban park or garden. At the center of the scene is a simple wooden bench, resting on a reddish path. The bench is unoccupied, yet its placement evokes a sense of quiet invitation, as though it’s waiting for someone to sit and enjoy the surroundings. Beneath the bench, the words **“LIFE WILL OUT”** are written in soft, hand-drawn lettering, suggesting themes of resilience and the persistence of life. In the background, vibrant greenery thrives. A tall tree with bare branches stands beside a stone wall, while lush ferns and potted flowers add touches of life and color to the scene. Yellow blooms in a pot brighten the lower corner of the image, contrasting against the muted tones of the street beyond. A car parked in the background reminds viewers that this is an urban setting, yet nature seems to be flourishing regardless.

Park(ing) Day Tip #4:

Use Posters

They are essential for building visibility, sharing information, engaging the community, and creating an inviting atmosphere. Posters are powerful tools for successful Parking Day activations! Here’s why they’re essential:

1. Boost Visibility: With posters around the neighborhood, we created eye-catching touchpoints, inviting more people to join in the event.

2. Share Key Information: Posters communicate event details like location, activities, and purpose, ensuring everyone knows what to expect. This is especially important in a bustling urban environment where people might not be familiar with the concept of transforming a parking space into a community gathering area.

3. Community Engagement: The feedback we received after our event demonstrated the posters’ impact. Neighbors took photos of the signs and shared them with one another, indicating that the information was resonating and being actively discussed within the community. This kind of engagement amplifies the event’s reach beyond the immediate vicinity, as people share details with their networks.

4. Create a Vibe: Posters defined the space, adding to the vibrant atmosphere and encouraging people to stop and engage.

5. Build Credibility: They lend legitimacy, showing it’s a well-organized, trusted community event.

Park(ing) Day Tip #5:

Greet away!

Do you want to transform #ParkingDay activation into a true community space? Start with a warm “hello!” Greeting people as they pass by breaks the ice, sparks curiosity, and invites them to stop and ask, “What’s going on?” That simple gesture can turn curious glances into meaningful conversations, transforming a parking spot into a vibrant gathering place. Next year, try it and see how a friendly hello can make all the difference!

Park(ing) Day Tip #6:

Provide a complimentary snack or gift.

Handing out fruit jellies to participants added a touch of joy to our activation. It wasn’t just a treat—it was a simple way to say, “Thanks for being part of this.” Small gestures like this can make your space feel even more welcoming.

Finally, let’s end the tips with a quote to keep in mind when organizing your Parking Day Activation next year:

“The measure of any great civilization is its cities and a measure of a city’s greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces.” – John Ruskin