The City of Columbia invites YOU to join in the fun during Columbia’s 10th Annual Park(ing) Day
September 9, 2025
PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public places. The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat… at least until the meter runs out!
We are excited to announce that the City of Columbia, in partnership with the South Carolina Chapter of the American Society for Landscape Architects and One Columbia for Arts and Culture, is again helping to facilitate PARK(ing) Day, a national event that takes place on Friday, September 19th. This event is about reclaiming on-street parking spaces as public space for people, for one day out of the year (10AM- 3PM).
It will be fun.
This year, the PARK(ing) Day theme is about how the recent Downtown Strategic Plan and Guidelines provide inspiration to rethink our public spaces – parks will be planned around a theme of “Plan your public realm.” We can’t wait to see what each park will inspire in the downtown right-of-way on September 19th! Play? Design? Dance? Wonder? The possibilities are part of the fun!
And we want you to join in.
PARK(ing) Day is about designing open space that not only attracts but also engages the community through the physical design of the space itself. This year, applicants have developed designs for a number of parklets, all to be built for public enjoyment. Mark your calendars and make plans to visit each parklet on September 19th between 10AM and 3PM (a map will be made available here: www.columbiacompass.org/parklets).
And you can vote on your favorite design.
This year, the PARK(ing) Day design contests are back – a People’s Choice Award, and a juried Best Design Award. Winners get bragging rights, as well as some fun, locally-sourced, prizes. Based on PARK(ing) Days past, we know the competition will be steep – so make sure you check out all of the parklets before casting your vote – the polls close at 4PM on September 19th!
To learn more, visit www.columbiacompass.org/parklets. If you have questions regarding the PARK(ing) Day, contact Planning and Development Services Department at 803-545-3222 or via email at [email protected]. For information on the international PARK(ing) Day movement, see https://www.asla.org/parkingday2024.aspx.
