Parking lots turned into ‘parks’ for a day

Channel NewsAsia 19 Sep 14;

SINGAPORE: From community gardens to outdoor yoga classrooms, parking lots across Singapore were transformed into creative spaces on Friday (Sep 19).

A total of 88 parking lots in the Central Business District, Jalan Besar, Kampong Glam, Outram and Tiong Bahru were turned into 52 ‘parks’, in an initiative to mark PARK(ing) Day, a worldwide event where people transform car park lots into temporary public spaces, and leave their vehicles at home.

Mr Ng Lang, CEO of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), said the response was encouraging. “As people visit and enjoy the PARKS, we hope they can see the potential of these spaces being places for the community to enjoy, instead of simply being spaces for cars. This is a light-hearted way to inspire us to imagine a city with fewer cars and more outdoor leisure spaces for people to enjoy,” he said.

Proposals for a variety of creative ideas were received from community groups, local businesses, student bodies and individuals, the URA said. Participants received a special “PARKing” coupon to display on site, allowing them to use the selected car parking lot for free.

Mr Choo Zheng Hao, Bornfire Community Circus member, found this to be a good experiment on how the spaces can be ultilised. “I hope there is a more tangible change that can come out of this. We can learn to see how we can use public space in the future, especially in terms of planning, and not just for car park space."

- CNA/cy/xy


PARK(ing) Day 2014 kicks off in Singapore
Today Online 19 Sep 14;

SINGAPORE — They were transformed into a hair salon, outdoor yoga classroom, urban farming exhibit, crime scene and more. For one day, 88 parking lots across the island were transformed into 52 creative spaces for the public to enjoy.

As part of the worldwide PARK(ing) Day event, people got the chance to transform parking lots into temporary public spaces, otherwise known as "PARKS".

While this is the second time that PARK(ing) Day takes place in Singapore, it is the first time that the event is held islandwide. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) supported the event offering parking lots under their management.

“We are encouraged by this year’s response for PARK(ing) Day. As people visit and enjoy the PARKS, we hope they can see the potential of these spaces being places for the community to enjoy, instead of simply being spaces for cars,” said URA Chief Executive Ng Lang. “This is a light-hearted way to inspire us to imagine a city with fewer cars and more outdoor leisure spaces for people to enjoy.”

Registration for PARK(ing) Day had opened from Aug 14 to Sept 15, where the URA received a variety of creative ideas from community groups, local businesses, student bodies and individuals.

PARK(ing) Day: Parking space oddities
Lakeisha LeoThe New Paper AsiaOne 22 Sep 14;

SINGAPORE - Finding a carpark lot and then realising you cannot park there is frustrating.

But some motorists who experienced this yesterday had some compensations.

At Telok Ayer Street, for example, the parking area was filled with stress-reliving activities organised by the folks from Project Hello Stranger, a movement started to spread love and giving among Singaporeans.

Called Therapy Stop, it was part of PARK(ing) Day, which is a worldwide event where the community turns parking lots into temporary public spaces. It is held on the third Friday of September every year.

In its second year here, the event was organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

It was the first time the PARK(ing) Day was held island-wide where 88 parking lots were transformed into 52 spaces for Singaporeans to enjoy.

Areas included lots at Tiong Bahru and Jalan Besar.

At Therapy Stop, activities included Bubble Tea, where visitors popped bubble wrap to relieve stress; and Roached Egg, where those taking part hit fake cockroaches with footwear.

The group, consisting of Ms Valerie Ong, 26, Mr Jonathan Ko, 26, Ms Ng Ying Ying, 26, Mr Weeradet Vongsai, 25, and Mr Lee Wei Guo, 29, found out about PARK(ing) Day through the news.

Stress Relief

Therapy Stop, which is aimed at stress relief, was born during one of their dinners together.

"We not only hope to help strangers to de-stress, but to also make friends and spread happiness as well," Mr Vongsai said.

Other spaces on Telok Ayer Street included Seen and Be Seen, a garden targeted towards cycling safely at parks and park connectors; and Kampong in the City, a space where the public can play a game of pong and other traditional local games.

Meanwhile, over at McCallum Street was ReTYREment Garden, where tables and chairs were made from old car tyres.

A slight shower in the afternoon around Telok Ayer did little to dampen the participants' spirits.

Miss Lim Junie, 22, and a friend created Shelter, a waterproof shelter/photo booth in a parking area at Ann Siang Road.

She said that a handful of passers-by stopped by their space to take photos.

"It's fun to see people's reactions, especially the cars that stopped for a few seconds to take a look before driving off," she said.

Miss Lim added that there was a man who went round looking for more spaces in the area after finding out about PARK(ing) Day from visiting their space.

Shelter's co-creator, Miss Kit Ang said: "It's a good way to have interaction with people through design and we hope to promote social integration through this as well."