Groups in Nanaimo briefly took over parking spaces on Commerical Street on Friday to show what a vehicle-free street could look like.
Park(ing) Day is an international movement to start conversations around how cities are designed and to explore what the space would be like without the need for vehicle parking spaces.
Strong Towns Nanaimo and Master of Community Planning (MCP) students from Vancouver Island University took part in Park(ing) Day by creating two “parklets” taking up parking spaces on Commercial Street.
CHLY spoke with Michael Bassili of Strong Towns Nanaimo. He said they want to convert spaces that are typically for vehicle parking vehicles into pedestrian spaces.
CHLY also spoke with Hannah Groot, a Master of Community Planning student who helped organize a parklet with other VIU students.
She said it is important for students in the program to participate in events like this as they are always learning and talking about parking.
Park(ing) Day on Sept. 20. Photos: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
