'Pop Up Park' To Appear In Doylestown

Imagine a greener, more people-friendly space in place of parking spots. This is exactly what will happen when PARK(ing) FOR PEOPLE, a “pop-up park,” appears on E. State Street in Doylestown. This temporary 120 foot long by 8 foot wide park will include plants, seating, artwork, and special free events, including a story time and musical entertainment.

It’s all the work of a design team that includes students and faculty from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Temple University, and volunteers including architects, landscape architects, horticulturalists, artists and citizens.

“Bringing this idea into reality has required a ton or cooperation and coordination among many organizations and individuals,” said Baldev Lamba, the event’s leader. “But it’s also been a wonderfully energizing, fun and rewarding experience. The outpouring of encouragement and offers of help from the community has shown over and over again just how amazing people in the Doylestown area truly are.”

The goal of this project is to engage and celebrate pedestrians through a place created for people to “park” rather than cars. The park is in honor of a worldwide event known as PARK(ing) Day. PARK(ing) Day’s mission is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to spark discussions about how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of our human habitat - at least until the meter runs out!

Amidst a beautiful display of plants and trees, Abby Sernoff, a local Mixed Media Collage Artist, is working on creating a 6 foot tall cylindrical art piece titled “Taking Flight” which incorporates several of her original bird and nature inspired works.

An art installation by CB West senior Olivia Horan titled “Diaphanous Bloom” is “reflecting on my generation’s struggle in claiming ownership of our future and our role in securing and improving a better world.” Olivia says.

Events will include:

Friday, September 18:

12:00 p.m. - Grand Opening and Concert by Faith and Practice

3:45 – 5:45 p.m. - Concert by Lucas Ebeling Trio

Saturday, September 19

8:30 a.m. – Join Dtown Bike Riding Basics on a bike ride to the pop-up park (starting at Linden Elementary School)

10:00 – 10:45 a.m. - Story time with Miss Larissa

Noon – 1:00 p.m. - Concert by the Overtone Acoustic Duo

Pop Up Park Photographic Competition – September 18 and 19. See details below.

More events are being added, and there will also be a photo competition held during the event. For more information and the most up-to-date schedule, follow the Facebook page PARKing for People at www.facebook.com/PARKingDayDoylestown?fref=ts

PARK(ing) FOR PEOPLE is supported by generous support from area businesses, civic and professional organizations, including Schumacher Landscaping & Construction; Sentinal Process Systems Inc.; the Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Bucks Beautiful, Clearview Nursery Inc., Doylestown Borough’s Environmental and Recreation Committee, Doylestown Business Alliance, Feeney’s Plant Nursery and Garden Center, Huberific Graphic Design Studio, Ralph C. Fey AIA Architects, Temple University Ambler.

Anyone interested in also becoming a sponsor is welcome to contact event chair Baldev Lamba at blamba@temple.edu.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Organizers are also looking for interesting photographs taken of the Pop Up Park during the event to be used in an event photo gallery and for future promotions. All selected images will be credited to the photographer. Two winning photographers will be awarded gift certificates from local restaurants and stores. You can enter up to two of your favorite images and the winning photographers will be notified directly. To enter, submit two images via email to popuppark@temple.edu by September 25, 2015. Photos must be saved in JPG format, labeled with your name, email address and title of photograph, saved at 72 dpi or 1200 pix on the long end. These files should be around 2-3 MB in size.