Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Parking

Parking Madness 2019 Round 1: Portland vs. Pittsburgh

We're continuing with our hunt for Most Improved Parking Crater today, slowly but surely narrowing down a list of 16 candidates to find the urban parking lot that has become a beloved cityscape rather than a cement crater filled with cars.

Today's matchup is a little different because it features two central civic spaces that were once nothing but asphalt.

Before we get to it though, voting is still open for yesterday's competition pitting Houston vs. Boston (Minnesota and Oakland have already moved onto the second round).

parking madness 2019
false

Now on to today's competition:

Portland

P-town's Pioneer Courtyard Square was formerly a low-rise parking deck.

Reader Jay Shuffield, who submitted the below photos, said, "There's probably nothing that challenges Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square emerging from the site of a full-block parking deck to become the city's central civic space."

portland before
false
portland after
false

Pioneer Courtyard Square calls itself "Portland's living room" and the city's "most visited park." The square hosts 300 programmed events per year, according to the nonprofit group that oversees the space.

Pittsburgh

A similar conversion has taken place in Steel City's famous Schenley Plaza.

pittsburgh after
Photo: John Altdorfer, Schenley Plaza story time
false

Reader Laura Ellis nominated this space, saying:

The five-acre plaza is located on what was a large, 280-space parking lot in Oakland and situated between the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Phipps Conservatory, and the Carnegie Museums and Library. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, transformed the space, and today this much-loved community greenspace attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, providing gathering places, entertainment, and a grand entrance to Schenley Park.

In addition to a one-acre green space, the park contains dining kiosks, a carousel, public restrooms and a full-service restaurant. In other words, it's a big improvement over a parking lot.

But can it top Pioneer Courthouse Square? Let us know which deserves to go on to the second round. Vote now!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Wednesday’s Headlines

Goodbye Transit Month, hello Walktober!

October 1, 2025

Testing the MASCOTS Plan During the Week Without Driving

Abby Arnold returns with her second (annual?) series chronicling a Week Without Driving.

September 30, 2025

Q&A: Rebecca Saltzman and her New Role at Bike East Bay

Transit advocate, bike advocate, former BART director, El Cerrito City Council... Bike East Bay's new leader has done some of everything in the world of safe and livable streets.

September 30, 2025

Last Chance for Input on La Puente’s Housing Element Update

Take the survey: building rule changes allow for faster home development, including on church grounds, commercially zoned land, and to replace lost affordable housing.

September 30, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines

As October is nigh, attention begins to drift away from Sacramento for now...

September 30, 2025

More Transit Means Safer Streets

Promoting transit isn't just a social good. It's also a tool to achieve Vision Zero.

September 29, 2025
See all posts