“We’re bringing it back for the season!” Yvonne Bambrick called out to onlookers who gawped as a tow truck backed the Garden Car into place on Augusta Street in Kensington Market. “Today is Return of the Garden Car Day. For the 17th season!"
Inspired by its parking meter parties, where the group would pay for a spot and then use it to park bikes or host, say, a bench, plants, or a performance, Streets Are for People! simply paid for a spot on Augusta Avenue, deposited the car, and went at it with power tools and garden supplies, transforming it into “Toronto’s tiniest park,” in Bambrick’s punning coinage.
For the past two pandemic-afflicted years, the Garden Car came out even though there were no Pedestrian Sundays. Although there were few tourists, says Bambrick, “it felt like a nice little bit of normal” in abnormal times.