Some Chattanooga parking spots to become ‘parklets’ for a day

To mark Park(ing) Day — a global event that reclaims parking spots as places for people — three lanes of vehicle traffic and several on-street spaces will close Friday on parts of Broad Street downtown to accommodate a more pedestrian-friendly zone on the roadway.

In their place will be “parklets,” spaces where nearly 50 individual vendors will hold various activities for community members. Residents of all ages can attend free of charge.

Ginger Birnbaum, development and outreach coordinator with the Chattanooga Design Studio, the organization planning the event, said in a phone interview that Park(ing) Day on Friday will be the largest in the city’s history.

“It’s a time when people take what is typically a street parking space and temporarily transform it into a space for art and play and connection,” Birnbaum said.