Montreal collective Montreal a velo (www.montrealavelo.org) recently held a “park-in” on one of the busiest streets in Montreal. With turf rolled out to cover the concrete, a few strategically placed potted plants, lawn chairs, jugglers and dance music, a once uninviting parking space was transformed into a community gathering place.The spread even included a bicycle powered smoothie machine, which passersby were invited to hop on, and walk away with a free, delicious smoothie! Organizing a park in may seem like a small gesture, but it’s these kind of community building initiatives that create the fabric of grassroots networks, and can grow into transformative movements…

Throughout the day people were encouraged to participate in conversations and surveys about bicycle use and safety in Montreal, and around issues of urbanization and community building. While Montreal is a relatively green city, it still has over half of it’s downtown area alloted to parking, and city plans consistently value motorized vehicles over the need for green spaces and gathering places. Why not bring the sparks of interaction, of joy in humanity, back into the places that lack them?

Unfortunately, the Montreal police were not enthused by the unannounced merry-making, and insisted that it was necessary to have a car in the parking space in order to be using it, despite the fact that the meter was being paid to hold the space. According to their definition, hanging out in a parking space, rather than parking your car in it, qualifies as an “event” and so a permit would have been needed before the parking space could be occupied. Organizers managed to get a van in place, which they promptly covered with the turf, plants and a roof chair, squeezing the smoothie bike in front, just within the one space limit, and the festivities continued- albeit , in a somewhat truncated version.

Similar events have been held in other major cities, such as New York city and Toronto. If this type of action inspires you, try organizing around you own city! Our public urban spaces need to be brought back into use by surrounding communities. With a little creativity and the motivation, the possibilities are endless… (and if you’re not sure this is true, check out Portland Oregon’s City Repair group, one incredibly inspiring project creating community from city intersections…)