Quicker than we thought, Porta Park became a real New York City public park for a day at Park(ing) Day NYC 2008 this past Friday, September 19.  We pulled into the city early, set up at 10th Avenue and West 22nd Street, and entertained many passersby who joined us on the park for some plastic rest and relaxation.

For those of you who are wondering what Park(ing) Day is, it’s an international event that reclaims over 200 parking spots in 50 cities around the world and transforms them into engaging public spaces for one day a year.

Park(ing) Day NYC is an effort of the New York City Streets Renaissance which offers individuals and groups small grants to turn more than 50 parking spots throughout New York City’s 5 boroughs into human-friendly places for a single day. These small, temporary public spaces provide a breath of relief from the auto-clogged reality of New York City, and aim to spark a dialogue about our valuable public space and how we choose to use it.

For more info, visit the Park(ing) Day NYC website.

The Porta Park debuted this past weekend at the 2008 Conflux Festival in Greenwich Village. We found a great parking spot for the first completed Porta Park unit right outside of the Center for Architecture where Conflux headquartered itself this year.

The first Porta Park unit was a collaboration between myself and PLASTICMODULARMOBILE, with whom I will work to complete the other 8 units that when combined with the first, will comprise a full Porta Park. 

Judging by the reception from young and old, the Porta Park promises to offer people a quick, easy and safe public park experience no matter where – even on a crowded New York City street.

Small in scale compared to the Olympics, perhaps. But grand is the first word that comes to mind when describing this past weekend’s first ever Christmas Tree Toss World Championships.

The Institute for Aesthletics did a fantastic job organizing this event. We enjoyed blue skies and splendid crashing ocean waves following on the tail of Hurricane Hannah. Many Christmas trees were tossed, fewer planted themselves successfully in the windswept beach, but all were appreciative of their new life as aesthletic paraphernalia.

We identified a record throw of 85 feet, which is no small hurdle for next year’s competition, the 2009 Christmas Tree Toss Championships. If you would like to participate in next year’s competition, contact 7,000 Evergreens or the Institute for Aesthletics

Until then, hone your Christmas tree toss.