Every September, communities across the country celebrate Park(ing) Day by transforming ordinary parking spaces into temporary public places. At first glance, it can look like a one-day street festival. But in reality, Park(ing) Day has the power to do something much bigger: It can spark permanent change.
Consider Lafayette, Louisiana. By 2017, city leaders had been trying for years to bring more energy into their downtown. Outdoor dining was supposed to be part of that strategy, but it never got off the ground. Most sidewalks downtown were too narrow to accommodate dining areas. In some cases, they didn’t exist at all. So while outdoor dining was technically legal, in practice, it was impossible.
To break the impasse, the city of Lafayette partnered with a local nonprofit to host a Park(ing) Day event. Together, they installed 16 temporary parklets throughout the downtown, several of which simulated outdoor dining areas. “People enjoyed the experience, and it allowed downtown business owners and stakeholders to experience the change in a temporary way,” explained Carlee Alm-LaBar, then Lafayette’s planning director and now Strong Towns’ chief of staff. “They started to see the vision of how Lafayette could use its public space differently and how it might bring more energy to the downtown neighborhood.”
That experience mattered. Less than a year later, the city passed an ordinance allowing for parklets and outdoor dining to be built in former parking spots.
The results are striking. Just last month, Lafayette was ranked #6 in the country for outdoor dining — a recognition that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
Lafayette’s story shows that Park(ing) Day isn’t just about one afternoon. It’s a tool to test ideas, spark conversations, and influence policy in lasting ways.
If you want to learn how to use Park(ing) Day to create real, lasting change in your community, join our virtual workshop on September 18! The session will feature Cary Tyson, the executive director of Portland Downtown and a member of the Parking Reform Network.
