Park(ing) Day is a global, public, participatory art project that takes place annually on the third weekend of September. Around the world, people temporarily repurpose on-street, boulevard or lot parking spaces and convert them into tiny parks and places for art, play, and activism. Park(ing) Day is part of the broader movement of tactical urbanism that utilizes short-term interventions to pilot longer-term strategic changes in the built environment.
Our team at Dubbeldam is the organizer behind Park(ing) Day Toronto, stimulating, supporting and promoting Park(ing) Day events from other local groups and individuals across the city. We host an annual Park(ing) Day event at our own studio’s building, transforming four boulevard parking spaces and portion of the street in front of our building with temporary landscaping and activities that engage the local community such as workout classes, yoga, lounging areas, and food carts. The events have been such a success that we have now permanently converted the four City of Toronto boulevard parking spaces into a little parkette for the community to enjoy.
Since our first activation in 2022, Park(ing) Day Toronto has been gaining momentum. In 2023 there were five independent activations, and for 2024 we have had over 30 registered activations. This expansion is due in large part to a grant program initiated by Dubbeldam, in partnership with SvN Architects + Planners, Arup Canada, DTAH, and MASSIVart, designed to stimulate more activations throughout the city. The grant enabled a dozen activations hosted by non-profits, student groups, local community organizations, and individuals, all contributing to the ongoing dialogue about re-prioritizing public spaces for people rather than cars.
The 2024 activations will showcase a vibrant array of installations across the city, including a pop-up pickling parkette, a colorful balloon grove, bike-themed activations such as tune-up workshops, and a variety of kid’s crafts, activities, and games. Visitors can participate in a book and plant swap, drawing and sketching, a HIIT fitness class, dance and music performances, a planting workshop, and a beading workstation with a local DJ, among many other creative activations.
Interested in hosting your own pop-up park activation in September? Reach out to us at hello@parkingdaytoronto.ca or sign up online.
