Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In

Streetsblog readers have spoken! Providence has won the "Golden Crater" for its decades-long effort to reclaim its public spaces from cars.

The Rhode Island capital soundly defeated Pittsburgh, with 55 percent of the vote. Both cities had made the finals out of an initial pool of 16 cities, all nominated for dramatically improving an urban space from a former parking crater into a beloved gathering spot.

Many cities made a strong claim to the crown, but Providence's Capitol Hill area had the best story.

providence-2
false
voting 2019
false

Back in the mid part of the last century, the Rhode Island Statehouse area was surround by an absolute moat of grey, lifeless asphalt.

The site had some natural barriers, including railroad tracks that cut off the statehouse from downtown. A river actually flowed under the whole thing. In the 1980s the Guinness Book of World Records called the parking expanse that topped the stream the widest bridge in the world.

But beginning in the 1970s, Rhode Island and Providence were able to win federal funding to bury and move their railroad tracks. They daylighted the Woonasquatucket River, and built a walkable park along its banks.

The whole area is barely recognizable now, containing “over one million square feet of retail space, 2 to 2.5 million square feet of office space, 1,000 hotel rooms, 500 residential units, 10,000 permanent jobs," according to a local expert.

The city now hosts the famous Waterfire art installation every few weeks through the summer.

The Rhode Island Statehouse over Waterplace Park during Waterfire. Photo: Trover
The Rhode Island Statehouse over Waterplace Park during Waterfire. Photo: Trover
false

Mayor Jorge Elorza was excited about the victory, telling Streetsblog: “In Providence, we are actively investing in creating vibrant public spaces that promote unique, location-based experiences to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy such spaces as the Riverwalk and Waterplace Park.”

One of the cool takeaways from this year's competition is that cities are improving. Apartments and restaurants and offices and parks and all kinds of places for people are replacing parking craters. Here are a few highlights from the earlier rounds of this year's competition.

Minneapolis, 2002 vs. present
Downtown East Minneapolis, 2002 vs. present
false
Indianapolis 2014 vs 2018.
Indianapolis, 2014 vs 2018.
false
Kansas City
Kansas City
false

In the past when this competition featured actual parking craters instead of former parking craters, we tried to keep it lighthearted, but it was a little depressing. For instance, last year's "winner," Lansing, has a statehouse (top right corner of the photo) that is still surrounded by parking lots.

lansing_crater
false

This year's competition was more uplifting, so kudos to the cities and their nominees. Providence truly deserved the honor — and will hopefully inspire next year's nominees.

And the winner is...
And the winner is...
false

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

StreetSmart7: Sam Speroni and Automobile Debt

In StreetSmart Episode7, Streetsblog California editor Damien Newton and Sam Speroni from UCLA discussed the unequal distribution of car ownership costs in Los Angeles, using data from 2021 to 2023. 

May 23, 2025

Friday’s Headlines

CA vs. Republicans is national news, but there's plenty of other news happening around the state.

May 23, 2025

Metro Quietly Withdraws Lyft Bike-Share Contract Vote

The current twice-botched will-they-won't-they procurement process is not doing Metro Bike Share any favors.

May 22, 2025

SGV Hikes and Bikes: Duck Farm River Park

Tucked in the crook of the 605 and Valley Boulevard is some much needed breathing room for the East Valley.

May 22, 2025

Revealed: MTC Canceled Bridge Bike Lane Meetings Because Staff Findings Showed it Should Stay Open

Thanks to a public records request from Bike East Bay, we now know why two public hearings were cancelled at the last minute.

May 22, 2025
See all posts