Following a 2005 parklet demonstration by ReBar design firm, Park(ing) Day grew to become an inspired global “tactical urbanist” holiday, demonstrating the idea that people own the streets and inspiring multiple acts of self-organizing creativity around the world that continue to this day. Most municipalities today (including Pontiac!) have now reclaimed space for people via parklets or streateries. So what is the evolution of this concept today in 2022?

We’ve been exploring this question through our work in collaboration with PlacemakingUS, Placemaking Europe and PlacemakingX Park(ing) Day Global Cohort, co-creating the shared Public Design Mural. John Bela, Co-Founder of Park(ing) Day and ReBar, kicked off the first session presentation followed by PHINCO Co-Director, Monica Williams, Mural Digital Visual Design Interactive Process (see below).

Michigan Central Innovation District, Park(ing) Day 2022

For this year’s Park(ing) Day Experiment we are highlighting the regional “Possibilities-Thinking” of the Michigan Central Station Innovation District in Corktown, Detroit and also the location of our expanded new studio. We’ll be holding forth at Metropolis Cycles at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and 14th Street from 11-3pm, LIVE and Virtual. Michigan Avenue is the central focus of a USDOT $25 million RAISE grant that will facilitate the creation of a two mile autonomous vehicle and public transit execution.

This year’s practicum will attempt to address the following: What is an Innovation District? How might this project attract and grow new Michigan talent? What does the reinvention of historic Michigan Avenue; the ever evolving Detroit Riverfront; the forthcoming Joe Louis & Southwest Greenways and the “Car Free” redesign of 15th street have to do with Economic Development? What will be the role of Public Transit? What does it mean that Ford Motor Company is playing a major role in the movement towards more human centric, less car dominated cities? How might our social/human services be redesigned, in the post-austerity age yet with inflation and a remotely potential recession on the way?

Phoenix Center “Bus Stop, Bus Stop” Park(ing) Day 2021 Focus Element

Recall last year’s Park(ing) Day Pontiac in which we created a “tactical urbanist experience,” transforming the Filmore 13 Brewery Streatery into a site for open community engagement. We had broad and deepened conversations about the future of our downtown centered on the Phoenix Center “Bus Stop, Bus Stop” renovation. State Senator Rosemary Bayer and State Representative Brenda Carter hit the streets to voice their support for and the availability of some Federal and State funding, in collaboration with former District 1 Councilwoman Patrice Waterman and former District 2 Councilwoman Megan Shramski. This problem remains unsolved to date. How might “WE” nudge this project and the City of Pontiac, SMART Bus etc. into resolution?

Hyperlocal Pontiac Update: “Forensic Audit Findings Report” has been sent to the U.S. Attorney General…