There are so many things I’m excited about this month, I
couldn’t choose just one topic. We’re down to a balmy 102 degrees in Phoenix,
Arizona and I’m counting the days until I can wear boots and a sweater.
So in the spirit of weather, here’s what’s on my HOT list
for the month.
On September 19th, metered parking spaces around
the globe will be transformed into miniature parks. It’s not a day to
necessarily be anti-automobile, but rather a day to be pro-people. What if our
cities were designed for people first, rather than cars? How important are
small, green spaces within the urban fabric? PARK(ing) Day brings these
questions to light.
This will be our 6th annual PARK(ing) Day in
Phoenix, I’ve been the organizer for four years now and involved since year
one. What started out as a very grassroots effort with a handful of people, has
grown every year, garnered lots of press and has warmed the city up to the idea
of parklets. Last year we even got some national exposure. You can check
out photos from our past Phoenix PARK(ing) Day events HERE. If you’d like to bring more
parklets to your own community, check out Pavement to Parks for ideas and resources.
After PARK(ing) Day, I’ll be jumping on a red-eye flight
with my 15 year old son Zane to attend what will hopefully be the largest march
on climate change to date. Numerous events are planned through the weekend,
culminating with a two mile march through the streets of New York City on
Sunday, September 22nd.
The march will take place prior to a UN summit on the
climate crisis which world leaders will be attending. I’ll be writing about our
experience at the march next month, so stay tuned…
The Better Block Project is all about revitalizing a
neighborhood block in a grassroots way. It’s like a real-life charrette to
envision real change in a neighborhood. On September 27th it’s
happening in downtown Phoenix. Vibrant communities are created one block at a
time. You can learn more about The Better Block Project HERE.
Here’s a list of some
interesting things to check out:
Until next month…
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment
before starting to improve the world.”
― Anne Frank
― Anne Frank
Love and Laughter,
Ms. Champion
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