What you can do with a parking space is amazing. And this year, the Association for Commuter Transportation has recognized GoSmart with a national award for public sector marketing and creativity in promoting different uses for a parking space. The award was presented this week during ACT’s annual meeting in Baltimore.
GoSmart, managed by GoTriangle, is a Triangle-based resource agency that assists employers, employees and agencies with commuter resources using transit, vanpooling, teleworking, carpooling and biking.
PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 by a design studio in San Francisco, CA, evolving into a global movement. GoSmart adapted the idea to the Triangle region and with the help of the American Tobacco Campus (ATC) in Durham, GoSmart established “Parklet Day at the ATC” on April 21, 2015.
The goal of the Parklet was to build awareness that a parking space-sized area doesn’t have to be for a vehicle. It can be an open space that could be used for something when employees come to work by a form of transportation other than driving alone.
With 4,000 employees, the American Tobacco Campus took a unique approach with a friendly, inter-organizational competition engaging its community and campus employers. Corporate entries included Bronto, Blackwell Management, GoTriangle, GoSmart and Organic Transit (Elf). The “Parklet” themes included dinosaurs, a dog park and two pups, lemonade stands and games. Awards, certificates, and prizes were provided for various categories.
The success of “Parklet Day” illustrates the value of green space, promotes air quality improvements and ways to reduce congestion on our roadways. Awareness of the alternatives hopefully will get more people to consider sustainable ways to commute.
More information about commuting alternatives is available at: www.gosmartnc.org.
GoTriangle improves the region’s quality of life by connecting people and places with reliable, safe, and easy-to-use travel choices that reduce congestion and energy use, save money, and promote sustainability, healthier lifestyles, and a more environmentally responsible community. For more information on the award, please contact Brad Schulz at 919-485-7434 orbschulz@gotriangle.org.