FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 12, 2018 

Media Contacts

Terry Owens — (202) 763-8635, terry.owens@dc.gov

Lauren Stephens — (202) 465 - 6112, lauren.stephens@dc.gov 

DDOT Announces DC PARK(ing) Day 2018
Annual event encourages alternative use of parking spaces  

(Washington, DC) -- Today, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced it is accepting permit applications for PARK(ing) Day 2018, which will take place Friday, September 21, 2018. The deadline to apply for a permit is Friday, August 17, 2018.

Since 2013, DDOT has administered PARK(ing) Day to highlight the District’s sustainability efforts and kick off car-free day activities in the region. Last year, DDOT permitted 26 parks in six of the eight wards of the District. Park hosts organized a variety of activities in their parks last year, from providing educational or cultural activities, to giving away free food, drinks, and potted plants, to offering a place for residents and workers to sit outside and enjoy the day.

“Since we started participating in this event, it’s been amazing to see the alternative uses for parking spaces that residents and participating organizations create,” said DDOT Director Jeff Marootian. “PARK(ing) Day is a unique opportunity for DDOT, residents, and organizations to be innovative, advance Mayor Bowser’s Sustainable DC Plan and further our goal to make DC the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation.”  

The event is open to anyone seeking to sponsor a seven-hour temporary park. The parks will be installed across the District, but limited to metered parking locations without time-of-day restrictions, and should be located in the middle of blocks for safety reasons.

Launched in 2005 in San Francisco, PARK(ing) Day has spread to cities around the world as residents and businesses create temporary parks in metered parking spaces.

For event guidelines and information on obtaining a permit to participate in the District’s PARK(ing) Day, please visit http://ddot.dc.gov/page/parking-day.

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The mission of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is to enhance the quality of life for District residents and visitors by ensuring that people, goods, and information move efficiently and safely with minimal adverse impact on residents and the environment. 

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