Carparks to be transformed into leisure spaces with return of PARK(ing) Day

SINGAPORE - On Sep 18, parking lots around Singapore will be transformed into leisure spaces like a mini public beach or a "teh tarik" stand, when international event PARK(ing) Day returns to Singapore for the third time.

The one-day event is part of a worldwide movement, where people in different cities transform parking lots into temporary public spaces, or 'PARKs'.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Urban Development Authority (URA) and the Housing Development Board (HDB) said that they would continue their support of the event in Singapore by making carpark lots available to participants.

URA said that it supported PARK(ing) Day under its PubliCity programme, which aims to involve the community in celebrating and enlivening public spaces through good design and programmes.

Singapore first participated in PARK(ing) Day in 2013. Last year, the event took place on an island-wide scale for the first time, with a total of 52 PARKs across 88 parking lots in various locations.

Mr Ng Lang, chief executive officer of URA said that over 50 community groups, local businesses, students and individuals took part in PARK(ing) Day last year.

"The public also had fun visiting and interacting with the PARKs. This year, we hope more people will join PARK(ing) Day and help spread the green message in a fun way," he added.

Interested parties can choose to set up their PARKs in any URA coupon-paid parking lot across the island, as well as selected HDB coupon-paid parking lots in Tiong Bahru.

Other suggested locations for the public to set up PARKs in include the Central Business District and Ann Siang Hill, Duxton Plain, Singapore River, Bras Basah and Bugis, Kampong Glam, Little India and Jalan Besar.

Interested participants will need to register with URA to create a PARK. They will receive a specially-designed parking coupon to reserve a parking lot and waive the parking fees once their registration is accepted.

Registration will open from today, and will last until Sep 14.

seanyap@sph.com.sg