(September 18, 2013) – When you think of parking downtown, you most likely think about parallel parking, paying a meter and pavement.  To put a different perspective on the small space, on Friday September 20, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will join thousands of people and organizations nationwide in creating an actual park in the space that normally holds a vehicle.   SHA will participate in PARK(ing) Day, an annual worldwide event where artists, citizens and groups transform metered parking spaces into temporary public parks for one day. SHA will convert the parking spot at the corner of Calvert and Monument streets adjacent to SHA’s Headquarters Building in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood.

SHA’s PARK(ing) Day will feature a miniature water treatment project similar to those used along highways throughout Maryland.  SHA volunteers will create a working model to demonstrate how storm water runoff can be filtered with trees, pervious concrete and bio-swales that collect and cleanse water as it drains through different layers before being discharged into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

“We are pleased to participate in this national event to highlight SHA’s commitment to the natural environment,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “This is an excellent way for us to connect with our neighbors and share innovations in improving water quality and protecting the Bay.”

SHA volunteers will set up the display in the parking space beginning at 7 a.m. on September 20.  They will be on-hand to answer questions about the techniques and Parking Day.  Crews will dismantle and thoroughly clean the parking space beginning at 3 p.m. and return it to normal parking operations.

 

PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 in San Francisco and occurs annually the third Friday in September. Since 2005, PARK(ing) Day has become a global movement, with organizations and individuals using creativity to turn a single parking space into something green for one day. 

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