What is PARK(ing) Day? Here’s a hint: It’s different than parking… and way more fun.
On September 21st, landscape architects throughout the world made parks out of parking spaces. Usually landscape architects design spaces like Central Park, Alumni Park, Library Mall, Picnic Point, or the Memorial Union Terrace, but on PARK(ing) Day their attention turns to parking spaces to create a miniature leisure space that prompts people to ask: “what is landscape architecture?”
Here’s a hint: landscape architects don’t clip your grass. In fact, they would likely rather replace it with a prairie and light it on fire once a year. The definition of landscape architecture from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is:
“Landscape architects analyze, plan, design, manage, and nurture, the built and natural environment. Landscape architects have a significant impact on communities, and quality of life. They design parks, campuses, streetscapes, trails, plazas, and other projects that help define a community.”
Landscape architects want you to be happy, for the environment to thrive, and it makes them happy to pursue these goals with every space.
On PARK(ing) Day, landscape architecture students in the UW-Madison Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture enjoyed installing and uninstalling the parklet organized by the Wisconsin ASLA chapter and designed by Jared Vincent of Saiki Design. Students jumped at the opportunity to get a breath of fresh air after extended periods in the depths of Agricultural Hall. After ascending to the Capital Square, students enjoyed sitting, socializing and eating in the space. Next year UW-Madison landscape architecture students plan to be involved in the design, with some intriguing concepts in the works. Mark your calendars for PARK(ing) Day 2019!