Remember Park(ing) Day? Well, the city of San Francisco has turned the once a year event into something that businesses, and even private citizens, can celebrate every day!

Rather than transforming a parking space into a mini park for just one day, San Francisco businesses can get permits for permanent mini parks in front of their establishments. These "parklets" are springing up all over San Francisco and Oakland, turning asphalt into social green space. High five, Bay Area, for putting people before vehicles!

The pretty terrible photo above is the only one I managed to snap of the parklet we ran across in our travels. This is one of the the only (possibly the only) parklets owned by a private person, rather than a business. It's hard to tell here, but they turned a street parking space in front of their home into a little patio with plants, a spot for their trash, curbside recycling, and compost bins, and for seating.

Could you imagine how it would transform cities if more folks did this? Ready access to parking definitely encourages people from drive places. What if there were just nowhere to park?

Have you guys spotted any parklets in your travels? I'd love to hear all about them in the comments!