A group of West Virginia University students will join a global movement to promote the importance of urban green spaces during PARK(ing) Day (Sept. 21), an annual event that encourages students, designers and community members to transform metered parking spaces into temporary small parks, or parklets.
As in previous years, the WVU Student Society of Landscape Architects is organizing the effort. SSLA is the professional organization of the landscape architecture program in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design.
One of SSLA’s main goals is to promote a wider educational experience and interest in landscape architecture, and this event helps achieve just that.
“PARK(ing) Day is a great way to give people within the landscape architecture major a firm-paced design experience while also tailoring design to a much smaller space than we usually design,” said Donovan Price, SSLA president and senior landscape architecture major. “Additionally, it gives the public a chance to view and interact with landscape architecture on a small scale.”
In addition to exposing students to a unique, hands-on experience, the process leading up to the event stretches them creatively while honing their resourcefulness skills.
“This event is an idea exercise,” said Michael Hasenmyer , teaching associate professor of landscape architecture and SSLA advisor. “It pushes the bounds of creativity as students strive to create their strongest design within a set of unique guidelines and with whatever materials and resources they can find, which often come from donated items or recycled materials.”
This year, SSLA will benefit from the support of a local design firm.
“SSLA would like to thank Halterman Landscaping Design in Morgantown for their support this year,” Price said. “Without the support of donors like them, combined with support from the School of Design and Community Development’s landscape architecture program, this event would be tough to pull off.”
This year’s design will be shaped by three elemental themes: sustainability, topography and West Virginia.
The general public is encouraged to stop by to see the designed space, talk with members of SSLA and even have their picture taken at the parklet to share via social media with #ASLAPD18 hashtag.
“People should definitely visit during PARK(ing) Day,” Price said. “They will be able to see and interact with landscape architecture and its principles in its purest form.”
The WVU SSLA parklet will be available to the public on Friday, Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the right side of High Street between Tailpipes and Jimmy John’s.
Pictured above, top to bottom: WVU SSLA members preparing for 2018 PARK(ing)
Day; WVU SSLA 2018-19 Officers.
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CONTACT: Nikky Luna; WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design 304-293-2394; Nikky.Luna@mail.wvu.edu