Park(ing) Day

Friday, September 19th  |  11:00 AM – 8:00 PM 

The Madison Greenhouse Store  |  1354 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703

About Park(ing) Day

Park(ing) Day is an annual, worldwide event where community members temporarily convert parking spaces into small parks, art installations, mini-plazas, markets, or activity spaces. What begins as a single curbside experiment invites conversations about how public space is used, who it serves, and how small changes can improve neighborhood life.

How It Works

• We're reclaiming two parking stalls for a few hours.

• Seating, plants, and bike storage are being added to the space.

• The transformed stalls will become a visible, low-cost prototype for more people-centered uses of curbside space.

Accessibility note: The site is on a flat curbside along the Northwest side of Williamson Street. The installation will be in the street space- blocked off by barricades.

Why Park(ing) Day Matters

Park(ing) Day is playful but powerful: it shows what civic and commercial life could look like when curbside real estate prioritizes people over cars. For Strong Towns Madison, it does three important things:

• Makes the abstract tangible. Neighbors experience a real, temporary alternative in their street.

• Builds political and social momentum. On-the-ground prototypes help persuade elected officials, business owners, and residents.

• Demonstrates low-cost experimentation. It’s an inexpensive way to test parklets, outdoor retail, dining, or green infrastructure before committing to long-term investments.

Opportunities for Land Use Improvements

Each temporary park is a micro-laboratory. Park(ing) Day highlights possibilities like:

• Parklets & outdoor dining: Expands sidewalk space and supports local businesses.

• Greening & stormwater: Planters and bioswales reduce runoff and improve walkability.

• Mini-markets & vending: Short-term markets activate underused space and support local makers.

• Seating & social spaces: Benches and shade invite neighbors to linger and connect.

How You Can Participate

Everyone is welcome- no experience required. Here are ways to join the fun:

• Drop by: Visit any time from 11 AM–8 PM to see the installation and chat with volunteers.

• Network with like-minded community members. We've started a Discord server with people from across Dane County to serve as a resource for information, ideas, and support. Attend one of our meetings to join the conversation and find folks in your area to work alongside. Send an email with any content to strongmadison+subscribe@groups.io to join our mailing list and receive monthly meeting reminders.

• Chip in next year: please share any ideas you might have on how else we can use the space, or volunteer your time for setup and breakdown.

Resources & More About Parking

It's the opinion of Strong Towns Madison that there's a lot more we can do with all the space we dedicate to private vehicle storage. Read our full thoughts on parking reform here or visit our page with more context on the current state of parking in Madison.

Event flyer below: