Potted plants and park benches took the place of cars Friday afternoon in some of downtown Wilmington’s parking spaces, in celebration of PARK(ing) Day.

The annual event, which traces its beginnings to a project started by an art and design studio in downtown San Francisco in 2005, aims to promote the need for more open space where people can enjoy outdoor activities.

Communities across the U.S. and in other countries use the day to transform metered parking spaces into mini-parks.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to see what it would be like to have more green in the urban environment of Wilmington,” said Sabrina Woofter, an environment and natural resources agent with the New Hanover County office of the N.C. Extension Service.

Standing in a little park made from a parking space on North Front Street, Woofter spoke with passersby about the effort Friday.

Currently, the city of Wilmington is collecting survey information from residents on what they want to see in new Northern Waterfront Park, which will be placed on 6.63 acres on the northern riverfront downtown.

The city bought the land in November, and the $4.1-million park will be paid for with funds from the city’s savings account and money left over from construction projects, the city’s website says.

City spokewoman Malissa Talbert said the city will continue to gather residents' input on the park until the end of the year. 

In the meantime, events like PARK(ing) Day, which was sponsored this year by Wilmington Downtown Inc., can help give people a glimpse of what they might be missing, participants said.

As a demonstration, Woofter helped set up a tent in one of the parking spaces turned parks on Friday.  

“I wanted to bring the tent to show that you need outdoor spaces for the protection of water quality and other natural resources as well as human enjoyment,” Woofter said.