Photos: 2013 International Park[ing] Day In City

September 20, 2013

Today [Sept 20] the Corporation of Hamilton is joining with the rest of the world to participate in International PARK[ing] Day. Portions of Reid Street have been assigned as designated areas for artists, designers and citizens to transform parking spots into temporary public parks.

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The Department of Planning and the Corporation of Hamilton have invited artists, businesses and community groups to use their imagination and create alternative visions for selected car parking spaces in the City for one day.

Minister of the Environment and Planning Sylvan Richards said: “PARK(ing) Day is designed to expand our thinking about public spaces and encourage us to consider the impact of cars. We hope everyone will enjoy the innovative ‘parks’ set up on Friday.”

Slideshow below of “Park” spaces beginning to take shape”

This is a joint project of Department of Planning and Corporation of Hamilton. Mayor of Hamilton, Graeme Outerbridge said: “The Council wants to encourage people to walk around the City and enjoy what we have to offer. We are delighted that community organisations and businesses have come together to make this an exciting introduction to the possibilities of a city with more public spaces.”

This year’s PARK(ing) Day will focus only on Reid Street but organizers hope to expand the concept for future PARK(ing) Days to other areas in the city.

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Comments (52)

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  1. Joonya says:

    dumbest thing i’ve ever seen…

    • Mike says:

      You said what everyone is thinking.

      There are better ways to get the message out about open spaces.

      • citi zen says:

        Did you participate in the survey conducted bt Planning Dept.
        So who’s dumb? If you don’t participate don’t comment.

    • Purple says:

      so don’t look

    • Jenn says:

      Didn’t your mother ever tell you if you have nothing nice to say then shut your trap. This is a fantastic expression of creativity – unfortunately some Bermudian’s are small minded!

      • Joonya says:

        Yes, but my father always told me to speak my mind.

        • Old Hand says:

          Some things are best left unsaid though – makes for a much nicer place if you just think it rather than blurt it out.

        • Katlyn says:

          Less is best.Ther has always got to be a negative Nancy.

    • Back to Basics... says:

      Wasn’t this highlighted in the Henagulf report as being wasteful of the taxpayers money when in effect nobody even cares about International Park day? Jeesh.

    • Out of flight says:

      Bite the bullet and close the street at least 3 days a week when the cruise ships are in and set this up. Better still leave it up 7 days a week. It was beautiful and added life to the dead city. Thanks for organizing it.

  2. Worker says:

    i love this..just too cute

  3. seafan says:

    This is fantastic! I would love to see this as permanent – close reid street and make it pedestrian only. Make it a beautiful green space, as there are so few in the city. I would love a nice space to sit during the day.

    • Joonya says:

      Albouys Point.. ParLaVille Park.. Barrs Park.. Victoria Park..
      what more do you want…??

      • Umm.... says:

        You can’t read? They want Reid Street too! LOL

      • Tommy Chong says:

        I would like to see all of the centre of town turned into old European walkways & green space. This is one reason tourist rather go to these old European cities than here. Who would want to go from a large inner city to a smaller version. Tourist want to walk freely without worrying about someone in their cage hitting them. Sir Johns plan about diverting traffic to underground parking lots & keeping Hamilton un-congested was spot on.

      • seafan says:

        The people that hang around these parks can make one feel very uncomfortable – see Seriously’s comment at the bottom. In the city, it is busy enough that you will not get harrassed or made feel unsafe like I have been in Par La Ville or Albuoys. Maybe this brings up the bigger issue – that we just need existing parks to be safe and friendly, rather than create new ones. The point remains that it’s hard to find a safe and quiet spot outside my office to eat my lunch!

      • Old Hand says:

        Ooooh ain’t you a bundle of laughs. Get out of the wrong side of bed or are you always this miserable? Bet you’ve got lots and lots of “real” friends!

    • Next says:

      There isn’t anywhere to park as it is, the stores complain all the time about Bermudians not buying Bermuda and you want to close off even more parking? Uh okay.

  4. My Kind says:

    I think they need a strolling minstrel.

  5. whatever says:

    What a fun idea and a nice change of scenery on Reid street :)

  6. Winnie Dread says:

    For a city so small there are more that adequet green spaces around, you just have to be willing to walk to them. Not sure what doing this is going to achieve, me thinks the money could br better used to do something about the terrible road around the city.

    • Joonya says:

      BINGO

    • Tommy Chong says:

      The roads weren’t terrible when there were size limits to vehicles. Traffic is what destroys the roads so I have an idea that if you own an oversized vehicle for personal or commercial use you should have to pay a yearly road tax that covers the cost of maintenance.

    • Shelta says:

      For a city so small there are more that adequet parking spaces around, you just have to be willing to walk to them.

  7. Y-Gurl says:

    its idiotic ideas like this that help fuel friction between C of H and the taxpaying public. Hamilton is supposed to be a municipality not a playground, parking is already almost impossible and C of H in their less than infinite wisdom continue to obstruct in every way possible the proper infrastructure required for commerce.

    • Jenn says:

      This is an international event http://parkingday.org/ – so based on your logic I suppose all cities who participate worldwide must be idiots?!? I think if you are looking for an idiot – look in the mirror.

      • Y-Gurl says:

        Wow such an eloquent reply from a classy a$$, the fact it’s a barely recognized international event has no bearing whatsoever on my comment, we import as many idiots as we grow, there are many overseas events that are not suited to Bermuda and lots of jurisdictions that cater to commerce over playtime

    • Tommy Chong says:

      There are plenty of cities with extremely limited parking & most of these have a heck of a lot better commercial infrastructure than Hamilton. Heavy traffic is proven to be one of the demonising factors of quality of life.

      • seafan says:

        In Europe many towns have parking garages just outside of the city center and then have pedestrian only areas in the town. Problem here is, we are too lazy to walk from a parking lot into town. I have never had trouble getting a spot in City Hall car park, especially now that so many people have left the island. It is easy to park there and then walk to Front St or wherever I need to go.

  8. somuchless says:

    this reminds me of the time when gibbons co had the huge christmas tree outside their door on reid street taking up two car bays.

    this is far better imho.

  9. Young Adult says:

    I swear some of you just read the headline and not the article. We are participating just like other countries in the world on this Park(ing) day. Why do some of you have to be so negativ?. I rode through town today and it looks great. Well done C of H!!.

    • tricks are for kids.... says:

      I agree…..a change of scenery is good….SOME people just LOOK for things to complain about……

  10. Just me Being Me says:

    This is a breath of fresh air. Awesome to see something different for a change. Great opportunity for the artists and all that participated to get their creative juices going. I like this!

    All you negative persons, step outside of the box that you are in! It’s people like you on why this island is stuck in neutral!

  11. Truth is 'me... says:

    I guess C of H and Planning didn’t see the front page article today. We may soon bankrupt ourselves as soon as 2016 if this debt isn’t paid off!!!! While Rome is burning the fiddlers are playing with parking spaces!!!!!!

  12. Betty Rech says:

    this is the city !!! where people have business to run and people have business to do.

    go make the parks and beaches attractive for our tourist.

    Instead of worrying about Parking in the City

    We really need to find away to get this country out of DEBT that’s what everyone should be worrying about.

    • Tommy Chong says:

      “go make the parks and beaches attractive for our tourist.”

      I do recall seeing many, many tourist in Hamilton this summer & I’m sure they’d rather see this than concrete & vehicles.

  13. Peter Pumpkin Eater says:

    I think it’s a novel idea, but how much did this sideshow cost? The City has parks everywhere. Sure, it was good to see Reid Street looking different but there’s a huge park at the end of the street! Hang a left on foot and you hit Albouy’s Point park. Fail.

    • Pedestrian says:

      It cost the corporation very little. This was a collaboration with businesses and volunteers.

  14. tricks are for kids.... says:

    Ever so thankful that I am “too blessed to be stressed” over a change of scenery for ONE day…….

  15. cicada says:

    I guess you lot never go to any other cities. Most nowadays have pedestrianized their central area so people can shop MORE without having to worry about cars etc.

    It is a great idea to pedestrianize Reid Street and it would lead to more commerce, not less. I guess vee bies can’t handle a walk of more than 50ft though – not that many can ever park on Reid St anyway…

    • Tommy Chong says:

      AMEN to that!

      Only ones who need special parking are the handicapped the rest are just lazy.

      N.B. Being overweight doesn’t qualify as being handicapped.

  16. Shelta says:

    I thought this was a great event. It always seems to me that Hamilton is designed around cars and parking spaces. What other city in teh world puts parking lots on its waterfront and around it’s City Hall?

  17. ggurl says:

    Be grateful people!
    There are Countries and people that don’t enjoy the freedom!

  18. ella says:

    @ tricks are for kids: totally agree with you

  19. Seriously? says:

    Sadly there are too many “loners” hanging around the parks that we do have. I feel threatened and out of place every time I go there, whether it be Victora Park, Queen Elizabeth II Park or Albuoy’s Point. I am approached by strangers every time I go there, even when trying to enjoy the peace and quiet and eat my lunch. It is sad that we need to create green spaces in areas that are full of shoppers and crowds in order to feel safe. Yes most people are simply too lazy to walk to the parks that we do have, but those that do often find themselves feeling very uncomfortable and looking around all of the time, hardly a relaxing lunch break. I shouldn’t be hounded or approached by men I do not know when simply sitting in a park reading a book. Sad times indeed.

  20. Freedom says:

    This whole road should be made similar to this permanently, with cafes and small restaurants integrated where you can sit off a get a relaxing bite to eat, conveniently. It would create a much more mellow feel instead of Business, business, business.

  21. Familiar says:

    I’m afraid I consider this to be a ridiculous event. Yes, it’s certainly amusing to take away parking bays and turn them in to little parks, but it accomplishes nothing whatsoever. People need to remember that Hamilton is not a city in the same way the places like NYC, London and Toronto are cities. It is nothing more than a glorified small town and attempting to compare it to other true cities is like comparing a grain of sand to a rock. You can’t do the same thing with one that you can do with another. I don’t mind the notion of pedestrianising part of the city, however, I don’t believe Hamilton is in any position to do it correctly. They’ve already removed almost evey bench in the town becasue they can’t keep the homeless from taking up the spaces. So when they pedestrianise this is going to suddenly change, or are they not considering having seating available for people, as is done in other pedestrianised areas. No point in making something pretty but not particularly usable.

  22. Nicky Gurret says:

    The “Park(ing) Day” was an event that I believe gave the public and the COH a good look an feel of what adding more planting and trees does to a city rather than more concrete. Unfortunately it is easier to maintain a slab of concrete than a plant! Also along with the ideas of more vegetation was the idea of more smaller scale business and activities along a street which added a vibrant wonderful atmosphere on Park(ing) Day

    The COH and all I believe should take away from this exercise that trees and art are important to a city than people sometime we realise. In the last ten years the City has declined in feel and look. The COH have have cut down or removedtrees. Front Street trees have been cut down and not replaced. Trees have been removed elsewhere and not replaced. There is little decorative planting and more concrete in the city. There should be more art pieces along one’s journey in the city. The City Hall fountains which were a delight when working have been removed and replaced with grass,which is not particularly creative!

    This event was not an exercise in futility but creativity! On the comment of cost. As I understand it the COH already had the plants and transferred them to the parked areas. Business and organisations such as Gibbons Company, The Phoenix , Washington Mall, BSOA gave of their time and resources and should be applauded. The Bermudian Musicians were paid and the lemonade stand business owner made good money on her sales. this showed a small glimpse of what Hamilton could look and feel like. It showed a promise which we all should strive for in terms of city planning and urbanism.

    On those that bough up the issue of feeling uncomfortable in existing parks I agree and this should be addressed, however solutions have not been forthcoming or if they have they appear not to have worked. This does need to be addressed.