There is various research that shows how being in contact with nature brings great benefits to both mental and physical health. And we don’t need to move to the heart of the deep forests to be able to interact with nature, but we can do it in any corner of the planet. This is precisely the idea behind PARKing Day, which could be translated as ‘the day of taking over the parks’, a global event that invites us to reconnect and revalue green spaces anywhere in the world.
What can bring more peace to the mind than a green landscape where sensory immersion connects us again with Mother Earth. It doesn’t matter if it is a small space, the truth is that parks, gardens and even indoor plants also invade us with their benefits just by being nearby. There is even research that found that living nearby helps you quit smoking.
What is PARKing Day?
It may not be well known but the idea behind PARKing Day is to revalue green spaces, whether large or small, in the middle of cities. In addition, it seeks to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable mobility to be able to enjoy a better life. It is celebrated annually every third Friday in September. Day when activists, artists, designers and citizens direct their efforts to transform parking lots into temporary public parks. With all kinds of creative ideas, participants turn cities into temporary green spaces as a reminder that we need more nature and less gray spaces.
It first emerged in 2005 when a San Francisco art and design studio converted a car parking lot into a temporary public park. From here, PARKing Day began to be established in different ways and under different concepts. Today it has become a global movement whose objective is to address the need for more urban open spaces. In addition, it generates a critical debate about how public space is distributed and how this affects the quality of the habitat. It is no longer limited to parking lots, but has extended to every corner of the city that requires a bit of greening.
Picturesque photographs show the concept behind this initiative in various spaces around the world. Observing them encourages us to think that we need to revalue the green spaces we already have, learn to take care of them and stay connected with them. But also, to create our own green corners and thus, expand the pieces of forest that we need so much.