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Here’s what Seattle did for Park(ing) Day 2018

So much is possible with a parklet

By Sarah Anne Lloyd
Courtesy of SDOT

Friday was Park(ing) Day in Seattle, which allowed citizens, businesses, and other groups to transform parking spots into activated spaces. It’s an opportunity not just to create some sweet hangout spaces, but to get really creative: past years have included bowling, ball pits, and even chickens.

This year, like past year, Park(ing) Day was part of the Seattle Design Festival, and everyone from small businesses to advocacy groups to design firms threw their hats in the ring. Or on the parking strip.

Here’s a selection of just a few out of 62 parklets that popped up all over the city last week.

A big pool of grass

Montgomery Townsend built a big community pool... lined with grass for lounging rather than swimming. But it had a cute little ladder and everything!

A high-design lemonade stand

Weisman Design Group laid down some astro turf and built a giant-but-adorable lemon—plus some other matching decor—out of cardboard tubes in Madison Park.

A collaborative sea mural

A nautical backdrop framed a collaborative mural facilitated by Mithun.

A “unicorn zoo” in Belltown

Bike repair and information

“Bike Bike Revolution: Take to the Streets!” was a collaboration between Bike Works, Rainier Valley Greenways, Refuge Outdoor Festival, Black Girls Do Bike, and Cascade Bicycle Club.

A beach day

This beach day wasn’t all fun and games; while this installation by Mikala Woodward included some towel lounge space, it was also an exploration of the impacts of climate change on sea level.

A pop-up bike lane

Collaborative community planning

A big theme this year was taking community members’ input on city planning and transportation—including a collaborative sculpture in Green Lake.

Hoola hooping

A giant see-saw table

This isn’t the first time a giant see-saw has made an appearance—Weisman did one last year—but this one from Via Architecture is more of a bench.

Giant Jenga

Board and Vellum built a deck out of Kebony wood and set up a giant Jenga game.

Musical performances

Parklets in the U District and Pioneer Square had opportunities to make music happen—or to sit back and enjoy some tunes.

Regular ol’ hangout space.

The most popular option, as always: spaces to sit, relax, read, hang, and think.