Landscape Architecture and SASLA students pose in front of their renovated parking spaces at this year's (PARK)ing Day
Image Credit: Rachael Keeney
On September 18, UMD’s Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architecture (SASLA) hosted its third (PARK)ing Day in front of Cole Field House. However, organizers stepped up their efforts for this year’s presentation.
Partnering with Terrapin Beats Society, UMD’s student run music production/DJ group, and BikeUMD, a bicycle program sponsored by the Department of Transportation, SASLA students made sure that their six parking spot renovation got the attention it deserved, offering students the opportunity to learn about landscape architecture, jam to the latest tunes, and get their bikes in tip-top shape.
“Part of our goal was to talk more about what landscape architecture is because there is a lot of misconception about what we do,” said Brittney Wood, SASLA Events Chair and Landscape Architecture major with a minor in Sustainability. “Landscape architects don’t just design people’s backyard gardens. We transform spaces into more usable and creative places.”
This is exactly why the international (PARK)ing Day event was created in the first place -- to show that metered parking spaces can serve a more sustainable purpose than simply providing commuters with a place to park their cars.
Specifically, SASLA students set to work at 6 AM to transform six of their ten reserved parking spots into an interactive sculpture garden, made possible by plant donations from the university’s arboretum, and a student-made bench.
“If there’s one thing I would want people to take away from this, I think it’s transforming urban spaces,” said SASLA President Nick Martinazzi , who is also a Landscape Architecture major with a minor in Sustainability, “We don’t have to think of cities the way we think of them now. They can be more green, sustainable and livable for everyone.”
Jeffrey Holliday, Coordinator for the university’s Recreation and Wellness Adventure Programs and supervisor of the RecWell Bike Shop, echoed Martinazzi’s thoughts: “Getting people outside and to think about their space in a different way, especially turning road space into green space, makes drivers think about different ways that roads can be shared, perhaps with bicyclists.”
“It makes drivers think about how roads are not necessarily just for cars,” Holliday continued. “There are other ways of getting around, other uses for these spaces that will make them better served, whether it is a pedestrian sitting in a park by a road somewhere or it’s a biker being cognizant that these spaces aren’t just for cars.”
SASLA has other events promoting sustainability and landscape architecture coming up in the near future, starting with a “Pumpkin Party” pumpkin carving event at Hornbake Plaza the Wednesday before Halloween.
“There are a lot of students interested in what landscape architecture is,” Martinazzi concluded. “All students are welcome to come to these events or check us out on Facebook for more information.”
