Park(ing) Day Toronto
Reimagining parking spaces as people spaces.
Park(ing) Day is an annual global event where citizens, artists, and activists temporarily transform parking spaces into pop-up parks and social spaces for a day. Taking place on the third weekend of September, people around the world repurpose on-street, boulevard, or lot parking spaces, converting them into tiny parks and places for art, design, play, and activism.
Why Park(ing) Day?
Park(ing) Day draws attention to the need for improving access to public open spaces in densely populated urban areas. By encouraging people to think critically about the allocation and usage of public space in cities, Park(ing) Day promotes civic engagement and raises awareness about the need for more open, green, and social areas in our urban environments. The ethos of Park(ing) Day is to celebrate the use of urban public space for people and challenge the dominance of the automobile in cities.
Park(ing) Day began in 2005 as a design activism project by the design studio Rebar, transforming a single parking spot in San Francisco. Since then, it has grown into a worldwide movement, featuring hundreds of installations in over 35 cities across the globe.
Park(ing) Day Toronto 2024 Grants Program
Park(ing) Day Toronto is coordinated locally by Dubbeldam Architecture + Design. This year, in partnership with SvN Architects + Planners, Arup Canada, DTAH, and MASSIVart, we have created a grants program to encourage more activations throughout the city. The program will offer grants of up to $500 for eligible activations hosted by non-profits, local community groups and individuals.
Host Your Own Park(ing) Day Activation
Create your own pop-up park in any parking space and join the global movement! Whether you’re an individual, community group, or non-profit, hosting a Park(ing) Day activation is a unique way to reimagine urban spaces and foster community engagement.
To get started:
- Register Your Activation: Visit the Park(ing) Day website to register your event and let the world know about your upcoming creative transformation. https://www.parkingdaytoronto.ca/register
- Apply for a Grant: Take advantage of our grants program, offering up to $500 to eligible applicants and activations. This support can help turn your ideas into reality.
- Get Inspired: Follow us on Instagram @parkingday_Toronto for inspiration and ideas from past activations and connect with others in the Park(ing) Day community.
Activation Dates: Third weekend in September (Friday September 20 – Sunday September 22, 2024).
