Ideas won’t change the world, unless they are put into action.
Here are some ideas to get you started…
a public park | a DIY lemonade stand | a free health clinic | an ecology center | an urban farming display | a glass recycling center | a clothing swap | an interactive sculpture | a yoga class | an outdoor classroom | a finger painting studio | a public kiddie pool | a bicycle repair shop | a croquet tournament | a dog-grooming station | a chess tournament | an open poetry reading | a barbecue | a lawn bowling or bocci ball game | an pop-up art gallery | a hula class | a dinner party | a public reading room | a public beach | a public picnic | a chicken coop | a wedding ceremony | a productive landscape | a free head & neck massage | a free worm composting demo | a solar panel demonstration | a salsa dance class | a live music performance
Café
A mini street-side cafe with tables and chairs, umbrellas, turf (real or artificial), plants, shrubs and small trees is easy to set up and take down. Consider finding sponsors for cold drinks or a mobile coffee cart as well as loaner furniture and vegetation.
Beach
Although more work to set up and clean up, a temporary beach can be a fun neighbourhood installation with a kids pool, palm plants, beach chairs, pool noodles and umbrellas. Keep in mind that you might want to have a rain plan!
BYO Parklet
A simple parklet can be the easiest to create. Invite participants and collaborators to bring a lawn chair, blanket and plant while you supply the turf and safety cones.
FUN FACT: The City of Toronto adopted a Parklet program which originated in San Francisco, directly influenced by REBAR’s Park(ing) Day activations.
Invite your local city councillor, MPP and MP to attend or participate in your park(ing) activation
Seek in-kind sponsors to help you outfit your space and spread the word
Invite local community and environmental groups to join you and help spread the word through their networks
Make your installation both fun and educational. Have a sandwich board or signage that explains what you are doing.
Social media. Tag @parkingday_toronto #parkingday2023 #ParkingDayTO #reclaimthestreet
Spread the word.
It is the responsibility of each organizer to ensure their installation is not breaking the law or disrupting/blocking the active roadway or sidewalk access for pedestrians. Installations must respect the safety of participants, visitors and the general public.
On-street installations should:
be clearly demarcated with traffic cones and where applicable, be a space that allows parking all day even during rush hour so as to not block an active lane at any point
not interfere with drainage, restrict access to catch basins / maintenance holes / utilities, or be located within 2 metres of a fire hydrant
not be physically attached to the surface of the road or boulevard
be inset a minimum of 0.5 metres from the travelled active roadway lane
not have solid screen fencing or soft landscaping located along the perimeter of the park that exceeds a height of 1 metre
where located in metered parking areas, ensure payment is made and proof of payment is available to show parking enforcement officers if requested
