Pop City Media
Writer: Jennifer Baron

Green projects take root: national PARK(ing) Day, new riverfront trail signs

Move over meter maids, there's a creative new use for parking spaces.

On April 24, the Office of Public Art, Community Design Center of Pittsburgh and Riverlife will host a free brainstorming session for National PARK(ing) Day. Conceived in 2005 by San Francisco-based art collective REBAR and sponsored by The Trust for Public Land, PARK(ing) Day is an annual global event that invites artists, activists and citizens to transform parking spots into temporary public parks.

During the meeting—which takes place at 6:00p.m. at the Brew House Association—participants will rethink how streets are used, discuss ways to get involved with the event's Pittsburgh debut, view project examples, and examine the initiative's relevance to issues facing local communities. “It's most effective when people see images. We'll cultivate ideas to see how many people want to get involved and where next steps go—like working with the city on permits,” says Emily Craig, with Riverlife, who hopes to develop partnerships with local universities.

In Pittsburgh, PARK(ing) Day will coincide with a Land Trust Alliance rally on September 19, when five Convention Center parking spaces will become public park sites Downtown.

In other green space news, the final wayfinding sign for the city's 22-mile riverfront trail network was unveiled on April 21. The 89 trail-finding signs—supported by a $52,000 Federal Transportation Enhancement Grant—direct cyclists and trail-goers to trail entrances and motorists to free trail-head parking. Signs also direct cyclists from Schenley to Frick Parks.

The circular shaped signs (see picture below) were designed via a collaborative public/private partnership between the city, Friends of the Riverfront and Riverlife. Advocacy group Bike Pittsburgh [sic] on sign placement.

Source: Emily Craig, Riverlife

For more photos of the event, CLICK HERE