Seemingly misplaced shrubberies sprouted from the coarse, gray concrete of a parking spot near Johnston Hall on Friday, encouraging passing students to slow down and enjoy a moment of peace on an otherwise hectic day.
University landscape architecture students converted this parking spot into a “parklet” as part of Park(ing) Day 2014, an annual, worldwide event where parking spaces in urban areas are transformed into small parks for the public to enjoy.
Landscape architecture senior Erin Percevault said the event is meant to raise environmental awareness in a simple, yet powerful, way.
“[Park(ing) Day] is where community members try to enliven public spaces, especially urban spaces, and to reclaim them as parklets,” Percevault said.
According to Better Block BR, a total of 16 parking spots throughout Baton Rouge were transformed into parklets, altering the flow of the city.
Percevault said Baton Rouge has been proactive in trying to develop Government Street and a few other locations to make the city more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. She said Park(ing) Day advocates for urban development and inspires creative ideas for places where people can congregate.
“It’s especially focused towards areas that don’t have a lot of green space or places for people to gather,” Percevault said. “It’s been fun to be able to talk to people more about it and spread the word.”
Park(ing) Day started in 2005 when a San Francisco art and design studio, Rebar, turned a metered parking space into a parklet in downtown San Francisco. Since then, the day has turned every third Friday in September into a global awareness event.
According to the Park(ing) Day website, the event is aimed at “providing temporary open space … one parking spot at a time.”
Percevault said the Park(ing) Day student group reserved the spot through the University to secure the area for the day.
Landscape architecture senior Leanne Hinson said she enjoyed watching people pass by, wondering if they were just selling plants or trying to advocate for something.
“It’s always nice to see people stop and realize what even a small space that a parking space can take and the impact that it can have on people,” Hinson said.