When I started working in Downtown LA around this time last year, I walked outside for my afternoon walk only to find that where a parking spot used to be right outside my building now lay a tiny park. Yes…a park. Three people had set up grass, a bench and some plants and were sitting around lounging in their little man-made park the size of a parking spot. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, but I loved it!

My reaction was just what they were trying to draw out of local Angelons as part of Park[ing] Day LA – a yearly event where artists, designers, and activists transform parking spots into temporary public parks. I love this event because it really makes people think about LA.’s lack of public parks and green space.

According to the web site, Park[ing] Day LA is “an opportunity for community members to engage passers-by, motorists, members of the press, city leadership and yes, even the authorities, in a rational and respectful dialogue of everything from our city’s parks and public space to the environment and allocation of land to mobility issues and local beautification projects.”

Park[ing] Day LA takes place this Friday, September 18th. Last year over 70 mini-parks sprouted up across the city and this year should see even more. For more information and to see what parks may be appearing around you, check out their web site and follow them on Twitter.