Downtown Tacoma residents, organizations, and workers are encouraged to participate in Park(ing) Day, an international day of turning passive urban parking stalls into active mini-parks filled with people, plants, music, art, and games. Originally invented in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, Park(ing) Day calls attention to the need for more urban open space and challenges people to rethink the way streets are used.

On Fri., Sept. 18, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Downtown On the Go will bring this international Park(ing) Day event to downtown Tacoma. Local businesses, organizations, and residents will showcase their creativity by transforming over 30 parking spaces into interactive parks.

Visit the parks during your lunch break and stop by one of the event food trucks located on Pacific Ave. between South 11th Street and South 12th Street.

Tour many of the parks throughout downtown by participating in an 11 a.m. walk starting at People’s Park, located at 900 S. Martin Luther King Jr Way, or a noon walk starting at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, located at 1500 Broadway, in downtown Tacoma. Stop by any of the parks to pick up a Park(ing) Day passport and map of the spaces. By visiting five or more parks and turning in the completed passport, visitors will be entered into a drawing for downtown gift certificates and prize baskets.

Event sponsors and partners include the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, the City of Tacoma, and Spaceworks Tacoma.

More information about Park(ing) Day in Tacoma is available online at downtownonthego.org.