Beyond Parking: How Cities Are Reimagining Space for People

In two fascinating articles, Aitor Hernández-Morales from Politico and Apolline Lamy from Streetsblog USA explore the growing movement to reclaim public spaces from cars across Europe and the U.S.

"Why are we so comfortable filling our most iconic public spaces with a bunch of metal boxes?" — Aitor Hernández-Morales

Hernández-Morales’ piece, "In Pictures: Europe’s Car-Free Plazas Reclaim Their Former Glory", looks at iconic European squares that were once overrun by vehicles. These spaces, such as Brussels’ Grand Place and Florence’s Piazzale Michelangelo, have been transformed by banning cars, creating havens for residents and tourists alike. The article raises the question: why were these urban treasures surrendered to parking lots in the first place? In some cases, it took decades for cities to recognize the value of liberating public spaces for people.

Similarly, Lamy's article "Eight Ways to Reimagine Parking Spaces" takes inspiration from the annual Park(ing) Day, where activists transform curbside parking spots into vibrant spaces for community activities. From pop-up playgrounds and mini-golf courses to outdoor art studios, the event showcases how parking spaces can be reimagined as valuable public spaces, highlighting the absurdity of devoting so much urban land to underutilized car storage.

"We’ve certainly got the spots to spare." — Apolline Lamy

Both articles make a compelling case for reducing the dominance of cars in urban areas and envisioning more people-friendly uses of public spaces. Whether in the grandeur of European plazas or the everyday curbside parking spaces in American cities, these efforts reflect a growing desire to rethink how we use our streets and reclaim them for community life.