Staff at COOP 15 Architecture will be hosting a “Park” for the annual “Park(ing) Day” on Sept. 16 – and may even barbecue.
What is “Park(ing) Day”? It’s a global event where parking spaces all over the world are transformed into mini parks. Seattle and countless cites in the United States are participating, as are Cape Town, South Africa and even Beijing, China.
COOP 15 has completed a rendering of the park that will tentatively feature a deck, sod, potted plants, lawn chairs and potentially a barbecue.
“We might sneak a barbeque on,” said Trevor Dykstra, a project manager at COOP 15. He wasn’t sure if the city would permit it. COOP 15 will pick up the sod but the decking tiles will be donated by Bamboo Hardwood in the U-District. Dykstra may also enlist the services of staff at neighboring Queen Anne Dispatch to design an art installation for the park. After the event, Dykstra will give the sod away to anyone who wants it.
When Dykstra was reminded of the event this year, he wanted COOP 15 to be a part of it. He knows shops in Capitol Hill, Pioneer Square and downtown have all participated but this might be the first time a shop on the Hill has entered the event. The Park will be set up from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 16. You can see all the cities participating and park examples at http://my.parkingday.org/