Photo Credit Alek S.

Later this month, parking spaces across the country will be transformed into park spaces and public performance exhibits, returning valuable urban real estate to the public realm. The Trust for Public Land is hosting the national Park(ing) Day on Sept. 21. According to their website "National Park(ing) Day is a series of public art projects nationwide to celebrate parks and promote the need for more parks in America's cities." I like to think it's also a great way to promote awareness about transportation and how much we waste in the name of the automobile. Street parking is heavily subsidized by the city, so it's very cheap to "rent" a space yourself to create a temporary park for your own street. Just be sure to pay the meter and follow the time limits! Click the link above to let the TPL know about your parking space project if you are planning one.

Events will take place on Sept. 21 and 22 in Chicago. So far, one local event has been announced.

The Chicago Cacophony Society will hold a Park(ing) Day Event on Saturday, September 22 at 2:00pm. Meet at the Red Line Belmont Stop to participate. Chicago Cacophony Society to provide the turf, you provide anything else. For more information visit http://www.chicagocacophony.org/home .

Last Sept. a similar project called Park Yourself took place in 23 parking spaces across Chicago.