From parking spot to paradise: St. John's landscapers push for more green space
Group sets up temporary green space in downtown parking lot
Some St. John's landscapers are putting the park back in parking lot, by turning two coveted downtown parking spaces into a temporary community garden.
According to Rachael Fitkowski and Tim Murray, landscape architects with Murray's Landscape and Horticultural Services, the event is part of a worldwide movement called Park(ing) Day.
"[It's] definitely to show the importance of green spaces within an urban core," said Fitkowski.
"We've had people stop by today and say, 'Wow this a park? That's really awesome, you know, that was a parking lot before.'
The difference you can make by turning something grey into something green.- Rachael Fitkowski
"It's really just showing the difference you can make by turning something grey into something green."
The pair believe the downtown core needs more green spaces — even tiny ones like theirs.
Throughout the day, they asked visitors to identify areas where more green spaces could be created. Murray said they'll share those findings with city council.
"Just for people, you know, walking around Water Street to just stop and have a place to sit down and hang out. We really think there should be a push for that," Fitkowski said.
The parking lot park on Bishop's Cove is just a temporary setup — Fitkowski and Murray laid the sod and brick Friday morning, but plan to pack up and leave the rented spots by Saturday.
Check out the Park(ing) Day park in the video player above.