Iowa City's 6th annual Climate Fest, Sept. 19-25, is a celebration of the many ways the community takes action to address climate change.
This year’s week-long will kick off with a special celebration of National Parking Day, joining other cities across the nation as they convert parking spaces into pocket parks to help reimagine how we use urban spaces.
Come stop by the lemonade stand in the Pop-Up Parking Space Pocket Park at the corner of Washington and Van Buren Streets (near City Hall) and raise a glass to this Climate Action success story!
In Iowa City, this celebration has special meaning, as every parking ramp and meter plays a creative role in supporting Fare Free transit service: earlier this year when City Council voted to continue Fare Free service past the initial two-year pilot period, they also voted to raise parking rates to help keep the buses free. That means every time you pay to park you are contributing in some small way to the city’s climate action efforts. The increased fees also help free up parking spaces downtown when you really need them by creating a little extra incentive for everyone to use parking resources efficiently.
Since beginning in 2023, the Fare Free transit program has helped increase bus ridership in Iowa City 68% and reduced total vehicle miles driven within the city by nearly 1.8 million miles! That not only cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions. It also makes streets safer for biking and walking by reducing the number of cars on the road.
Take a free bus to this event! All routes stop within a 3-block walk to City Hall.
For a complete list of Climate Fest activities, visit https://www.icgov.org/Home/Components/News/News/2177/390.