Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick's parking space has gone green again.

Outside city hall, the spot boasts three cozy benches, a tree stump table and potted flowers.

Myrick, who has no car, said he decided during his first mayoral campaign six years ago the space would be converted into a miniature park. What better way, he said, to create a symbol that shows a commitment to nature, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and thriftiness with public space?

The park, open spring through fall, has been placed in the parking space every year since then. The Department of Public Works crew set the park up, and tear it down, before and after winter.

Myrick was inspired by a group of Cornell University students who invested a few handfuls of meter change to occupy two parking spaces in Collegetown with Astroturf and lawn chairs. His purpose: to make a statement on how much public space is used up by vehicles.

"It's a nice way to demonstrate how much space we dedicate to cars, and what could be possible if we shifted the use of that land," Myrick said this week. "I also wanted to send a message at a time of great fiscal austerity that good things were still possible in our city."

The mayor invites people to come out to his space and, well, park themselves a while. The spot invites anyone who wants to relax, socialize or play cards, among a variety of other uses.

"Every year the city forester and the community Beautification Brigade work hard to turn this small symbol a success," Myrick said.

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