5th Avenue Grows Grass—National Park(ing) Day

A surprising “green” transformation will take place in Portland on Friday, September 19th – one that will give Portlanders another reason to leave their cars at home. Parking spaces downtown may be sprouting grass… and a bench, or better! In an effort to reclaim the streets for National PARK(ing) Day, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ Portland properties are spearheading local efforts for this one-day global event where artists, citizens and businesses temporarily transform parking spots into parks for the day in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the Trust For Public Land (TPL). TPL is the only national nonprofit dedicated to conserving land for public recreation and enjoyment.

Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Portland, Hotel Vintage Plaza, Pazzo Ristorante, Red Star and other sponsors have collaborated to close down and convert an entire block of parking spaces into more than a dozen parks on SW 5th Ave. between Washington and Alder. The public is invited to stroll through or hang out in the decorated parking spots from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. This block will also be the site of a “Party In The Park” that evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., for a celebration of the day’s events. The outdoor family-friendly party includes bluegrass music from Stumptown Stars, a park-style BBQ from Red Star and Pazzo Ristorante, a beer “Garden” sponsored by the Oregon Brewer’s Guild and much more.

 “We are a city known for green space, alternative transportation and urban livability, so this year we’re stepping up to the plate and helping to bring this national event to our city,” said Hotel Monaco Portland General Manager Craig Thompson.

Kimpton is well known for their commitment to social responsibility and ecological practices through innovative programs like EarthCare, and are longtime supporters of Trust For Public Land. Through the “Parks for People” initiative, TPL has completed more than 425 park projects in cities nationwide, most in park-poor neighborhoods. The Portland office is currently working to expand Cherry Park in outer Southeast Portland, transforming a gravel quarry into a green oasis. These parks address critical recreational, health and social needs, and also benefit the environment and local economies.

The San Francisco art collective REBAR first created PARK(ing) Day in 2005 to re-imagine the potential of the metered parking space. In 2006, they collaborated with TPL to establish National PARK(ing) Day: a global exploration of the creative potential of streets.

Portland sponsors so far include: Hotel Monaco Portland, Hotel Vintage Plaza, Red Star Tavern & Roast House, Pazzo Ristorante, The Trust For Public Land, Travel Portland, David Evans & Associates, SRG Partnership Inc., DeSantis Landscapes, Cupcake Jones, PROGRASS Landscape Care & Design, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca, Portland Roasting, and Regional Arts & Culture Council.

For more information on the day’s events or to learn how to get involved, contact Daryn White at (503) 417-3323 or daryn.white@kimptonhotels.com. The Party In The Park will be located on SW 5th Ave., between Hotel Monaco Portland, located at 506 SW Washington St., and Red Star Tavern & Roast House, located at 503 SW Alder St. For more information on National Park(ing) Day visit www.parkingday.org.

***Update***

For a more COLORFUL take on Park(ing) Day, visit COLOURlovers and read their post "Colors of a Cause: Park(ing) Day."