On September 21st, Landscape Architecture students participated in what was another successful PARK(ing) Day design competition! This national event challenges people to reimagine parking spaces as a temporary parklet for the day, bringing awareness to how we can better use our urban space. The parks quickly gained a lot of attention. Numerous students and faculty members made time to stop at each of the parks, interested to learn about their displays.
The 3rd-year students gathered recycled windows, wood pallets and concrete blocks to build their post-industrial reclaimed gathering space. Beforehand, students painted the recycled materials in vibrant green and blue colors, adding a comforting feel to the space. After adding a variety of ferns, grasses and perennials, and a bamboo bench donated by Anova Furnishings, the 3rd-years had themselves a cozy and creative space!
The 4th-year students illustrated the process of ecological succession in their parklet. Their design included a plentiful amount of vegetation. Viewers could see the plant material transition from sedum species to flowering trees as they moved through the space, communicating how ecosystems evolve.
This year’s PARK(ing) Day design competition was judged by Dr. Ellis, Professor Nola, and Professor Sullivan. After careful consideration, the three judges announced the 4th year design as the winner! Congratulations to both teams and everyone who participated, we hope to see you again next year!