Ominocity’s Guide to Saskatoon Park(ing) Day

Ryan Smith September 20, 2012 30

Everything you need to know about Park(ing) Day and why it is important for Saskatoon

Saskatoon is changing. It’s no longer that quiet prairie city we grew up in. I bought my home in a suburb that didn’t exist just a few years ago and recently relocated my business to an area that was once considered to be one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in the city.

As Saskatoon’s population grows at record pace and new neighbourhoods are born in all directions, the city is at a crossroads as it transforms into the next major metropolis.

Park(ing) Day is a worldwide event that playfully challenges the way we think about public space as citizens take over parking stalls and transform them into public parks for one day each year. In Saskatoon, organizers are expanding upon that vision and designing a street that not only serves a wider range of transportation (cars, bikes, pedestrians) but also serves the community. 20th Street will become a vibrant community hub that serves as a focal point of commerce and culture as a parking lot is transformed into a public square featuring art, music, storytelling, yoga and games. Vacant buildings will become popup retail spaces featuring local designers and artwork and an exciting nightlife will animate the streets.

Park(ing) Day is not without its criticism though, many have protested that there’s not enough parking in the city as it is, and one loudmouth radio host has even called for a boycott of all businesses supporting the event. Saskatoon Park(ing) Day is not anti-car, it’s about building sustainable, creative streets that promote a high quality of life and attract residents, business and investment.

Plus, it’ll be one hell of a party!

Park(ing) Day Schedule

Saskatoon Park(ing) Day will take place on Friday, September 21st from 10am to midnight with activities located on 20th Street and Broadway. Click HERE to download a schedule of event programming.

TIME	ACTIVITY	BY	DESCRIPTION	LOCATION
Day	Free face painting for kids	CNYC & Bishop Murray HS	Bring the kids for free face painting and show your true colors!	Public square
10am-midnight	Popup art gallery	The Stall Gallery	All day art show and sale. Reception at 7pm. Cash bar 4pm-midnight. New work by Crystal Rassi & local artists.	210 20th St W
10am-midnight	Popup retail	Saskatoon Fashion & Design Fest, Mix & Match Marketplace, Mane Productions	Local fashion and jewelry store. Cash bar open from noon-midnight. Featuring local designers Laurie Brown, Sova Design, and artist Shannon Gauthier.	229 20th St W
Noon-9pm	Graffiti wall	YGW	Professional graffiti artists creating new work and sharing their technique with kids and onlookers.	Public square
10am-9pm	Kids’ activity books (free)	The Stall Gallery	Scavenger hunts to take kids on an adventure through Park(ing) Day! Prizes!	The Stall Gallery’s popup art gallery: 210 20th St W
10am-9pm	Horseshoe tournament	The Two Twenty	Join the tournament or just have a game!	Public square
10am-midnight	Park(ing) Day logo installation	Saskatoon Engineering Students’ Society	Real-life installation of an upside-down car with a garden planted on top.	Public square
10-10:30am	Fitness class	Freedom Functional Fitness	Run, jump, skip, and sweat with the newest members of the fitness community!	Public square
10:45am	ScienceTrek Cycles	Science Trek – Grade 8 Class	The Science Trek talks about their incredible journey as bike commuters in Saskatoon!	Public square
11:00am	Discussion: YXE Urban Agriculture	CHEP	Samantha Benesh will talk about her experience with urban agriculture.	Public square
11:15-noon	Yoga class	Hot Yoga on 20th	Vinyasa Flow class	Public square
10am-1pm	Giant Literacy Games	READ Saskatoon	Twister & games that promote literacy while getting silly.	Public square
Noon	Dance performance	Sangeetha Balasingam	Bharathanatyam dance	Public square
12:15-12:45pm	Soapbox	The Two Twenty	You have 140 seconds to share why YOU think Saskatoon needs to be a sustainable, creative city.	Public square
12:45-2:15pm	Drum making workship	John Sugar & Core Neighborhood Youth Coop	Drum making and performance.	Public square
1-4pm	Storytelling for kids	Saskatoon Public Library	Storytelling and free books for kids.	Public square
2-2:45pm	Yoga class	Hot Yoga on 20th	Hatha yoga class	Public square
4pm	Hula hooping	Hula Hoopster	Performance and interactive workshop. Everyone grab a hoop!	Public square
Noon-5pm	Live music	Ominocity	12:00 Rory Borealis 12:30 Karpinka Brothers 3:00 Carrie Catherine 3:30 Muse & the Buffoon 4:00 Caila Ellerman 4:30 Chad Reynolds	Ominocity park(ing) stall in front of The Two Twenty
5pm	Live music	Fountains of Youth		Public square
6pm	Live music	Arms Up		Public square
6:30pm	Dance	Kyle Syverson & friends	Modern dance performance	Public square
7pm	Live music	911 Turbo		Public square
7:30pm	Dance	Sangeetha Balasingam	Bharathanatyam dance	Public square
8pm	Live music	Kay the Aquanaut		Public square
9pm	Movie	Roxie Theatre	“Shut Up and Play the Hits” LCD Soundsystem documentary	Roxy Theatre
9pm-midnight	Live music	Ominocity	9:00 Myles and the Blanks 9:30 Aaron Adair 10:00 John Antoniuk & Jen Lane 10:30 Sarah Farthing 11:00 Wooden Reverie 11:30 Misterfire	Ominocity couch in The Two Twenty
Midnight	Afterparty	Paddockwood & Reach Promotions	Join us at Paddockwood’s new pub, The Woods Ale House, with live music!	The Woods Ale House: 148 2nd Ave N

Note: A Park(ing) Day kick-off will occur at The Broadway Theatre on Thursday featuring lectures from internationally acclaimed architect and urban designer Ken Greenburg and the City of Saskatoon’s Alan Wallace.

Park(ing) Day Map

Saskatoon Park(ing) Day will feature over 30 registered park(ing) stalls. Be sure to check out Ominocity’s live music stage in front of The Two Twenty/Collective Coffee!

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POSTED IN » Lifestyle, Music

About the author: Ryan Smith View all posts by Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith is the developer and event coordinator of Ominocity. Smith owns a web hosting and software development company called Varial Technologies and spends his days making sure the Internet doesn’t blow up. He was formally the vocalist for punk rock band Set Aside and wishes he would have learnt how to play an instrument. He also owns way too many t-shirts with cats on them.

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