Parking spaces getting splash of colour

By Aislinn O'Connor

Car parking spaces across the county will once again get a splash of colour for this years international PARK(ing) Day.

This Friday 20 September, artists, designers and citizens will turn Cork's paid parking spaces into public parks for one day only. The parklets will be poping up in locations in Cork city including Douglas Street, South Mall, North Main Street and Western Road as well as county locations including Cobh, Clonakilty and Fermoy.

The experiment that started in 2005, has since become an international success that has spread across hundreds of cites, as it reclaims everyday paid parking spots and turns them in to a place where people can socialise, relax and and enjoy the artistic expression.

O’Donovan’s Hotel in Clonakilty, who have taken part in the project for many years, will create a bicycle themed parklet. Cobh’s Seasalt Café are joining forces with Cobh Allotments and local fitness trainer Trevor Cummins (Train With Trevor) to turn their parklet into a health and fitness sanctuary directly in front of the premises.

Parklets will also spring up across North Cork in Fermoy and Mitchelstown. Claudia Matassa will create a parklet on Lower Cork Street in Mitchelstown while Grainne O’Connor of Crayon Creative and Fermoy Forum will be creating a gnome-themed parklet named ‘Gnomansland’ which will be on the main street across from Centra.

Meanwhile in Cork city, the Health Promotion Unit of the HSE on the Western Road will create a place for people to relax and rest. Douglas Street will be creating two parklets for the people of Cork this year outside Bia Blasta and at The People’s Parklet where there will also be a flower arranging demonstration at 4pm as part of Culture Night. A new addition to this year’s PARK(ing) day is North Main Streer where traders are working together with the management of the Vision Centre to create a lively parklet on the day.