Arlington Parking Spaces Are Getting a Total Makeover ... For a Day

ARLINGTON, VA — If you're coming to work on one particular Friday next month and find that your normal parking space has been taken over by a park bench and some grass, a giant chess set or a bit of artwork, don't be surprised -- that means it's PARK(ing) Day in Arlington County.

The 2016 PARK(ing) Day event will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, and you have just a few days left to get in your application (due by Aug. 31) if you want to participate.

What is it? PARK(ing) Day was born back in 2005 in San Francisco when art and design studio Rebar transformed a parking spot into a temporary park to draw attention to a lack of open space in the city, and since then it has grown into an international event that takes place each year on the third Friday of September.

Arlington will be participating this year, as the event is an opportunity to "enrich our community life by creating an inviting streetscape and by promoting activities that allow for social exchange, fun, creativity and critical thinking," the county says on its website.

"PARK(ing) Day in particular can furthermore promote a rethinking of the usage of the public-right-of-way and may motivate the public to more actively participate in the civic processes which shape our urban environment," it adds.

If you want to transform a parking space, you'll need to submit an application before August is over. Click here to get started. You'll need to fill out the application, sign the agreement and release form, provide a certificate of liability insurance, create a site design concept that adheres to the rules and then fill out the PARK(ing) Day Barrel Request Form.

It'll also cost you a bit of money. The permit is $34, plus a maximum of $15 for a full day of parking at that meter. Barrels also cost $5 each, and there are seven per site design.

Image via Arlington County