March 19, 2024
Annapolis, US 37 F

Parking Day In Annapolis

On behalf of the City of Annapolis and the MainStreets Annapolis Partnership (MAP), Mayor Joshua J. Cohen is encouraging residents and area visitors to come downtown on September 21 to support local businesses and celebrate PARK(ing) Day, an annual event being sponsored in Annapolis by the American Society for Landscape Architecture (ASLA), downtown businesses, landscape architects and landscaping firms.

PARK(ing) Day is a global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into temporary public places.

Maryland ASLA and Ciminelli’s Landscape Services will transform three metered parking spaces on Dock Street along Ego Alley into a public space featuring children and adult activities throughout the entire day, including live music by musician Doug Segree at lunchtime and The Audissey playing at 5:30 PM.

“Downtown is Annapolis’ crown jewel, and its revitalization is one of my top priorities,” Mayor Cohen says. “So many people have creative ideas to enhance the vitality of downtown, and I am committed to fostering an environment in which we are not afraid to try new things. Park(ing) Day in Annapolis is a great example of how the community and City Hall can come together to make cool things happen, and I hope it gives people one more reason to come and enjoy Annapolis’ enduring appeal.”

Other “parks” located in Annapolis on September 21 include:

  • Main Street & Market Space – Bignell Watkins Hasser Architects and Homestead Gardens will create a life-size chess board in front of Zachary’s Jewelers to celebrate the “Chess-apeake”.
  • 51 West Street — Richard Sweeney Landscape Architects will partner with E-Landscape Specialty Solutions to focus on Chesapeake Bay friendly products and options in front of Tsunami.
  • 49 West Street — Garden Girls Landscaping will showcase tips and tools for harvesting rainwater in front of 49 West Coffeehouse.
  • 75 Maryland Avenue — Gay Crowther Landscape Architects will team with Eden Contracting in front of Annebeth’s.

MAP is promoting PARK(ing) Day to encourage residents to come downtown to enjoy this event and support our local businesses. MAP President, Steve Samaras, owner of Zachary’s Jewelers sees the innovative use of the parking space in front of his business as something that appeals to his clientele. “I’m aware of how important it is to have spaces in the downtown for people to gather and enjoy what our City has to offer. So many of my customers are looking for a positive experience when they come downtown to shop, and its events like this that make their visit even more memorable.”

PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, converted a single metered parking space into a temporary public park in downtown San Francisco. Since 2005, PARK(ing) Day has evolved into a global movement, with organizations and individuals (operating independently of Rebar but following an established set of guidelines) creating new forms of temporary public space in urban contexts around the world.

The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat … at least until the meter runs out!

For more information on PARK(ing) Day, visit www.parkingday.org. To find out more about the Annapolis event, please contact Brian Vavrina at 443-534-6414 or [email protected]

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