On September 21, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Park(ing) Day will transform ordinary parking spaces into public parks. Artists, activists and everyday people alike will be parking it up until the meters run out.

Park(ing) Day started in 2005 in San Francisco as a way to ponder how we use public space.

Head downtown and explore the parks at will. A map is available on DowntownOnTheGo.com, or if you don't want to go it alone, join up with a tour of these ephemeral public spaces. The tour leaves from the top of UW Tacoma's stairs at noon-a perfect way to spend your lunch break.

If viewing parks is just not competitive enough for you, no worries. Take photos of yourself at each park you visit and send them to dotg@tacomachamber.org to enter into a contest for an ORCA card loaded with $12 and a Park(ing) Day t-shirt, or head to DOTG's Facebook page and vote for your favorite park to enter to win a $100 gift certificate to any downtown Tacoma business