Love open space? Enjoy parks and the great outdoors?

As part of International Park(ing) Day, the Beach Cities Health District and the Blue Zones Project will convert two parking spaces in front of Little Sister in downtown Manhattan Beach from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, September 19 into temporary active open spaces.

The downtown MB open space will feature an outdoor seating area, stationary bike, and giveaways. Those who bike, skate, or walk to the event and join in will receive prizes. 

"The mission of Park(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat," according to the website for the event. It began in San Francisco in 2005 and "is a non-commercial project, intended to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, unscripted social interactions, generosity and play."

Questions can be directed to BCHD's Thuy Nghiem at (310) 374-3426, ext. 265, or the City of Manhattan Beach's Environmental Programs Manager Sona Kalapura Coffee at (310) 802-5341.