Visual Stories

Video: Park(ing) Day in Anchorage, Alaska

Drivers making their way through downtown Anchorage on Friday were greeted with a strange sight. Instead of parked cars, some metered spaces were filled with artificial turf, lawn chairs and people making s'mores.

The idea behind Park(ing) Day, as it is called, is to call attention to the need for more urban open space and to generate debate around how public spaces are used.

Organized by the Anchorage Park Foundation and the Anchorage Economic Development Corp., 10 groups set up "pop-up parks" throughout town. The materials used varied, from artificial turf and a fake Christmas tree at the Urban Camp Site to real sunflowers, a Buddha statue and a soapbox at the People's Park, outside Side Street Espresso.

Photos: Park(ing) Day transforms parking spots into parks

Watch this video on Vimeo or YouTube, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great videos. Contact Tara Young at tara(at)alaskadispatch.com.

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