Eugene Parklet Competition: Details

Parklet design by Gensler (photo by Lydia Thompson/NPR) 

 

I have more information now regarding the Eugene Parklet Competition I first blogged about a few weeks ago. 

 

Entries in the competition are due Friday, June 16. On June 21, the organizers from AIA-Southwestern Oregon and the City of Eugene Parking Department expect to announce four winners. Their intention is to have the winning designs built and installed by July 29 of this year for downtown Eugene's Sunday Streets event that day. 

 

The City has identified four parking spaces as sites for the purposes of the design competition. Three of the parking spaces are on Broadway: one each in front of Townshend’s, Starbucks, and the Bijou theatre; and one parking space on Olive Street in front of the University of Oregon’s new innovation hub RAIN. 

 

The competition jury will select up to four submissions for construction by the winning teams in one of the assigned locations. Once built, the parklets will remain in place for 1-2 months before disassembly. The organizers’ expectation is participants will design their parklets such that they can readily be disassembled for relocation throughout downtown. 

 

The City of Eugene is providing up to $2,000 per winning entry for materials and related construction costs. The competition jury, which will have sole discretion to identify the winning submissions, will distribute the funds after completing its evaluation of the competition entries. The goal is to attract as many design entries as possible, and ensure the winning participants have some fun while making their parklets a reality. 

 

Everyone is welcome to submit an entry: architects, landscape architects, designers, artists, students, and more—basically, any and all of the most creative minds in our community. Participate in this exciting collaboration and help create a vibrant downtown Eugene!

 

The organizers are also looking for general contractors, sponsors, and volunteers to partner with them to help make the parklet competition a success. Partnering can be in the form of assisting in the building of the parklets, donations for materials, or contributions of funds and time. Each of the built parklets will include a Partner board, and AIA-SWO will include recognition for all Partners in all promotional materials and at all related events.

 

See the PARKLET COMPETITION HANDBOOK for competition guidelines, rules, timeline, and entry form.