By Stephanie Lisle
This article was originally posted via Doylestown Patch, on September 9, 2015
Temporary 120 foot by 8 foot wide park on E. State Street will include plants, seating, artwork and special free events.
Imagine a greener, more people-friendly space in place of parking spots. This is exactly what will happen when PARK(ing) FOR PEOPLE, a “pop-up park,” appears on E. State Street in Doylestown. This temporary 120 foot long by 8 foot wide park will include plants, seating, artwork, and special free events, including a story time and musical entertainment.
It’s all the work of a design team that includes students and faculty from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Temple University, and volunteers including architects, landscape architects, horticulturalists, artists and citizens.
“Bringing this idea into reality has required a ton or cooperation and coordination among many organizations and individuals,” said Baldev Lamba, the event’s leader. “But it’s also been a wonderfully energizing, fun and rewarding experience. The outpouring of encouragement and offers of help from the community has shown over and over again just how amazing people in the Doylestown area truly are.”
The goal of this project is to engage and celebrate pedestrians through a place created for people to “park” rather than cars. The park is in honor of a worldwide event known as PARK(ing) Day. PARK(ing) Day’s mission is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to spark discussions about how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of our human habitat – at least until the meter runs out!
Amidst a beautiful display of plants and trees, Abby Sernoff, a local Mixed Media Collage Artist, is working on creating a 6 foot tall cylindrical art piece titled “Taking Flight” which incorporates several of her original bird and nature inspired works.
An art installation by CB West senior Olivia Horan titled “Diaphanous Bloom” is “reflecting on my generation’s struggle in claiming ownership of our future and our role in securing and improving a better world.” Olivia says.
Events will include:
Friday, September 18:
- 12:00 p.m. – Grand Opening and Concert by Faith and Practice
- 3:45–5:45 p.m. – Concert by Lucas Ebeling Trio
Saturday, September 19
- 8:30 a.m. – Join Dtown Bike Riding Basics on a bike ride to the pop-up park (starting at Linden Elementary School)
- 10:00–10:45 a.m. – Story time with Miss Larissa
- Noon–1:00 p.m. – Concert by the Overtone Acoustic Duo
More events are being added, and there will also be a photo competition held during the event. For more information and the most up-to-date schedule, follow the Facebook page PARKing for People at: www.facebook.com/PARKingDayDoylestown.
PARK(ing) FOR PEOPLE is supported by generous support from area businesses, civic and professional organizations, including Schumacher Landscaping & Construction; Sentinal Process Systems Inc.; the Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Bucks Beautiful, Clearview Nursery Inc., Doylestown Borough’s Environmental and Recreation Committee, Doylestown Business Alliance, Feeney’s Plant Nursery and Garden Center, Huberific Graphic Design Studio, Ralph C. Fey AIA Architects, Temple University Ambler.
Anyone interested in also becoming a sponsor is welcome to contact event chair Baldev Lamba at blamba@temple.edu.
This event is designed and put into effect by The Doylestown PARK(ing) Day Design Committee:
- Baldev Lamba, Event Chair, Principal, Lamba Associates Chair, LA/Hort, Temple University
- Jennifer Jarret, Historical Architect, Jarret Preservation & Design
- Stephanie Lisle, Art Promotion/Event Planning
- Kristen Horine, Landscape Designer
- Kali Smalley, Landscape Designer
- Kristin Winters, Student at Temple
- Abby Sernoff, Artist
- Chris May, May Horticultural Services, Inc. & Chair, Doylestown Borough Shade Tree Commission
- Jim Resek and Judith Stratton, Doylestown Borough Shade Tree Commission Carter van Dyke and Peter Fernandez of Carter van Dyke Associates and Bucks Beautiful
- Faculty, Staff and Students from the Department of Landscape Architecture & Horticulture at Temple University
