Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Parking Madness 2014

It’s ON! Parking Madness 2014 Kicks Off With Chicago vs. Denver

parking_madness_2014
false

Are you ready for Parking Madness 2014, our second annual search for parking craters that have obliterated cities? You better be.

Last year, Tulsa took home the Golden Crater. In this year's tournament, we broadened the field to accept entries from outside the United States. Perhaps not surprisingly, American parking craters still dominated the reader submissions, but one international contestant will be facing off this year: Calgary, Alberta. Canada's first entrant is up against some truly gruesome competition.

Our first matchup is Chicago vs. Denver. It's your job to decide which parking crater is the most awful, life-sapping blight on its city.

Here's the evidence, beginning with Chicago:

chicago
false

Nice job creating a "fun" atmosphere around your basketball and hockey arena, Chicago! Notice how in this Google Maps view, about 95 percent of the spaces are empty, which is surely the case every day there is not an event.

Bruce G., who submitted this photo, says if you understand the context, it's even worse than it looks. "The United Center is fewer than two miles from Chicago's Loop, which puts this land within easy biking or walking distance from scores of downtown train stations, offices, and shopping destinations." Fail!

Okay. Now let's compare to Denver, a city we acknowledged last year for healing some of its worst downtown parking scars. Apparently, there's more work to do:

Denver crater
false

Aren't lonely little buildings surrounded by parking the saddest thing you've ever seen? And what a beautiful house too! Imagine what the neighborhood used to be like.

This area of Denver is called Court Place, and the submitter, Leighton Walter, called this block "tragic," although he acknowledged the good work the city has done to repair a lot of similar places.

Which city should advance to the next round? It's on you to decide. Vote below!

[poll id="56"]

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

OPINION: Can Regional Governance Break New York Out of Its Constant State of Transit Emergency?

The New York region needs to fundamentally change the way it governs its transit system, our contributor writes.

December 20, 2024

Friday’s Headlines: ‘So, How Was Your Day?’ Edition

You didn't come here to find out about yesterday's crime news. Instead, here's the livable streets news!

December 20, 2024

Albany Should Use ‘Underutilized’ Transit Fund For LIRR, Metro-North Discounts: Report

An "underutilized" pot of state transportation funds could help lure more New York City residents onto the LIRR and Metro-North, according to a new report.

December 19, 2024

See It: The McGuinness Road Diet Works — But Only Where the City Installed It

The road diet works, exposing the need to extend it all the way.

December 19, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Snow and Tell Edition

The Sanitation Department is even better prepared for winter. Plus other news.

December 19, 2024
See all posts