PARK(ing) Day is more than just a day dedicated to creatively taking over metered parking spaces.

It is, first and foremost, about redefining public and civic space and—on a far more philosophical note—address how we are to proceed with the urbanism that is overtaking our community.

In 2005, a San Francisco-based design company by the name of Rebar decided to do a guerilla art project: to overtake a metered parking spot by paying for it, turn it into a mini public park and serve a community which desperately lacked public space.

What has since become an annual event is also largely considered to be the inspiration for parklets—those permanent parking space takeovers which first appeared in San Francisco and then in Long Beach at Lola’s on 4th St.

By 2010, PARK(ing) Day had become a worldwide phenomenon with over 800 metered parking space takeovers across 180 cities worldwide—including Long Beach, known for its growing support of alternative mobility and public-space reclamation.

“What has been really gratifying,” says Rebar principal Blaine Merker in a press release, “is that PARK(ing) Day[—]a relatively modest art intervention[—]has changed the way cities conceive, organize and use public space.”

Last year’s event overtook 4th Street from Retro Row—spaces within the Cherry & 4th parking lot were decked with astroturf and lounge chairs—to the EVA, where Fingerprints and Berlin hosted Lotchella, parking spaces complete with mini stages for musical performances, a dancefloor and a garden.

This year is no exception and, in fact, the City itself is encouraging communities to partake when it comes around again this Friday.

“PARK(ing) Day provides the perfect opportunity for the many creative minds in Long Beach to invent and display ingenious uses of public space,” Mayor Bob Foster said in a press release. “I am confident the community’s contributions will be inspired and cause us to look at our urban landscape in a new way.”

As always, the City asks that all installations follow City ordinances and laws and that all parking spaces be properly paid for.

PARK(ing) Day is Friday, September 21. For more information and to register to design your own installation, visit the official PARK(ing) Day web page at www.parkingday.org.