Allentown Parking Authority, APA celebrated International Parking Day
Allentown Parking Authority, APA celebrated International Parking Day
International Park(ing) Day is an annual tradition of turning parking spaces into actual parks. It is a vivid showcase of alternative uses for public space, traditionally used by automobiles. It is a day for citizens to become involved, take ownership of their city and change it for the better. The celebration treats metered parking spots as a short-term lease for a plot of precious urban real estate.
September 21, 2018 was INTERNATIONAL PARKING DAY and the Allentown Parking Authority (APA), in Allentown, PA celebrated with their local community! City Center Allentown sponsored the fun event this year, which took place directly in front of the APA’s office building on the corner of N. 6thStreet and Linden Street.
This year, the APA chose to incorporate Int’l Parking Day with a month-long donation drive, which benefitted two local agencies in need of food and household items; The Sixth Street Shelter and the Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank.
Through Social Media outlets, their organization’s website, as well as radio advertising, the APA reached out to the community for their help with donating items. On Friday, September 21st, the APA presented both local agencies with an abundance of collected items.
In concert with the donation process, each donor was given a raffle ticket and a free MobileNow! parking voucher. On Int’l Parking Day, the APA drew raffle winners and awarded the winners with various prizes donated by Allentown’s local businesses.
In the early morning hours of International Parking Day, the APA’s Executive Director, John Morgan, and his staff, went to work on creating a welcoming, beautiful, park-like setting to host the day’s festivities. By 11:00 am, the 3 metered parking spaces transitioned into a gathering place that offered food, drinks and fun! The Allentown Parking Authority’s city park area boasted grass, trees, flowers, park benches, fountains and as all great parks have, a hot dog cart!
The local television station, WFMZ-TV 69 News, was on scene to cover the day’s event, as well as the local radio station, 99.9FM The Hawk, providing a 3-hour, onsite live music broadcast with games and prizes. Allentown’s Interim-Mayor, the Honorable Ray O’Connell, was present to deliver a Proclamation to the gathered public, announcing the history of International Parking Day and what it means to the City of Allentown. State Representative Michael Schlossberg stopped by to chat with residents and take part in the celebration.
Executive Director John Morgan stated, “This year’s event was amazing! We wanted to do something special for our community and we were excited to incorporate this fun event with something meaningful and deserving of our efforts. The two local agencies neighbor our office and we were delighted with the donations we were able to collect for both.”
The Allentown Parking Authority is looking forward to making 2019’s International Parking Day just as exciting, if not more!!
“On behalf of the Allentown Parking Authority, we are pleased to renew our MobileNOW! contract,” said Morgan. “Mobile payment underscores our mission to provide convenient and compliant parking in our city, and we’ve seen tremendous utilization in Allentown and throughout our greater Lehigh Valley community.”