Local new urbanism advocates will build a parklet in a parking spot in front of Royal Blue Grocery in downtown Austin on Sept. 21 in celebration of PARK(ing) Day, an annual, international event in which participants transform parking spots into temporary parks.

Jace Deloney, a member of CNU-CTX, a new urbanism advocacy group, said he and several others will be transforming the space in front of the market, located at 609 Congress Ave., into a park and cafe area for the public to enjoy from 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

"We'll have tables, chairs and an AstroTurf grassy area where people can lounge around, read books and work or eat," Deloney said.

Austin City Council voted March 22 to allow Royal Blue Grocery to convert two parking spaces into patio space, freeing up approximately 500 square feet of additional space for a patio. The conversion is a pilot program, and Royal Blue Grocery is the first to receive authorization from the council.