Media Release                                                                                               

16 September 2009

Putting the ‘Park’ into car park

Cars will be banished from parking spots in Auckland city on Friday 18 September as a group of Aucklanders reclaim the streets as ‘people places’.

Five Auckland city parking spots will be ‘hijacked’ as part of an annual international event called ‘PARK(ing) Day’.

 In cities around the globe, artists, activists and citizens are temporarily transforming metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces.

It’s the first time New Zealand has participated in the global initiative designed to promote “people-friendly cities”. 

 The Auckland sites will be transformed into a fishing pond, a play area featuring petanque, golf and twister, a picnic area, an area on Queen Street complete with a lawn mower and a Parisian artist’s corner in Lorne St.

Parking Day was first established in San Francisco in 2005 to highlight that 70 per cent of their city is dedicated to the private vehicle.

CBD advocate Heart of the City is supporting PARK(ing) Day, partnering with Intersect[1] to bring the programme to Auckland. 

CEO Alex Swney says for far too long priority has been given to the private motor vehicle.

“Together with Intersect we are making a stand for place-building in this city of ours. Instead of parking lots, green pockets of park like spaces will sprout up around the city.

“It’s about thinking outside the five metre by two metre parking lot, and encouraging people to use alternative means of getting to and from the CBD such as cycling, walking or public transport,” Swney says.

Heart of the City says PARK(ing) Day is a small step in moving Auckland forwards.  It’s about building a city people want to be part of and one where there are activities and facilities for citizens to take part in and use.

“Parking Day is a symbol for positive change.  People and not cars should be shaping our city,” says Swney.

Chair of Intersect, Nick Potter concurs.

“When I think of a people-friendly city I imagine a place that is safe for cyclists, fun to explore by foot, full of fresh air, and has plenty of buzz from people not cars.”

In Auckland the five parking spots hijacked for (PARK)ing Day will be situated at:

-       191 Queen St (outside Valley Girl)

-       3 Lorne St (next to Sheinkin Café)

-       Corner of Swanson St and Queen St

-       Corner of Darby and Queen St (outside The Body Shop)

-       Corner of High St and Vulcan Lane

 ends

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