Downtown’s Main Street become a haven for miniature temporary parks last week in celebration of 2019’s eighth annual PARK(ing) Day Dallas.

On the third Friday of September each year, parking spaces across the country are creatively transformed into interactive installations for the short-term takeover. The intent is to put out a call to action for how much more urban open space is needed, improve the quality of urban areas, and generate a nationwide conversation around how public space is created.

In a partnership with city leaders, parking spaces are reserved for organizations, private companies, or individual people. Teams are formed and areas are revitalized to become sources of entertainment, scooter zones, or art studios. Then, a panel of professional judges rates, scores, and presents awards to those who truly embodied the PARK(ing) Day mission: “to transform public parking into public space via people, purpose, and play.”