Project Update - September 2020

The City has been working with Midtown businesses, property owners, and residents for many months now in a co-design process to re-imagine Elizabeth Street, Midtown as a more welcoming accessible and people-focused main street. Achieving something great takes time, and when things like COVID get in the way, sometimes they take a little longer, but when there is a desire and momentum to see change then some exciting things can happen. Take International Park(ing) Day for example. Occurring annually on the third Friday of September worldwide, the premise is to re-purpose an on-street car space for a day to create a 'parklet'. What is a parklet? A tiny park in an on-street car parking space, temporarily transformed into something different and social. Park(ing) Day demonstrates the what could be possible by re-claiming on-street car parking spaces into 'parklets' to help our cities become healthier, more comfortable, more creative and more successful outdoor human habitat.

In recent weeks the Tasmanian Young Plannners have been working with several Midtown traders to prepare for this year's Park(ing) Day. On Friday 18 September we will see pop-up parklets curated and hosted by a record number of Midtown traders including The Stagg, Island Espresso, Bar Wa Izakaya, the CWA Gift Shop, Shoe Box café, Play Street landscape architects, and maybe more! Midtown will be transformed 'fleetingly' for a day to provide a glimpse of what a future Midtown might look and feel like. Park(ing) Day is for everyone. Make it to Midtown and join in the fun!