Lakeshore Ave - People creating Community by taking over Parking spaces

We will be installing one-day parklet demonstrations on Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue as part of Park(ing) Day. http://parkingday.org/

Music, Sustainable Landscape Design, Art, Miniature Golf for kids and adults

We are a group of Oakland residents passionate about getting parklets established in Oakland. They are creative and fun ways to improve the aesthetics of the street and create more open space for pedestrians. I would call this Social Justice through Sustainable Urban Design. It is time for the people to reclaim the focus of streets/neighborhoods/community for the people and not for the cars.

What is a parklet?

A parklet is public open space created in an urban setting by taking over 1-2 parking spaces. The idea is to foster an environment that celebrates pedestrians and people. We believe the benefit of creating a public amenity for the enjoyment and use of those patrons and local residents far outweighs any cons associated with taking a parking space away to do this. We are all in support of encouraging people to get out of their cars and walk more. What better way to do that than to give them an incentive to come out and play here in the Lakeshore/Grand area.

Parklets have turned into a global movement and all around the world on September 17th, people will be taking over parking spaces to make a statement about making our communities more about people/pedestrians and less about cars. Actually most people are doing it on Friday, but we're doing it on Saturday because of the Grand Lake Farmers Market when more people will be out to see what we are all about. Park(ing) Day http://parkingday.org/

You can do one in your own community! Get some friends, pay the meter, and hang out in an act of solidarity that community gathering is healthy for our society.

We would like to engage volunteers in our projects. Ultimately we want to build a permanent parklet on Lakeshore Avenue and now we are trying to educate the community and get them excited about these projects. The City will not give us a permit till we can show that there is community support for this.

September 17th will be a demonstration to the community of what a parklet will do for a neighborhood.

Here is a blog just in its infancy started for our endeavors to involve the community in our design and efforts :

http://510parklet.wordpress.com/

Please contact me via email and let me know if you are interested in helping out and any questions you might have. Thank you!

Sara