Parking Madness: Grand Rapids vs. Salt Lake City

The final spot in the “Elite Eight” of parking craters is riding on this match. Either Grand Rapids, Michigan, or Salt Lake City, Utah, will move on to the second round of Parking Madness, Streetsblog’s annual contest for eternal parking infamy.

Both cities have their natural strengths. Grand Rapids, of course, is part of the state that automobiles built, and Salt Lake City is known for its gigantic blocks that make walking difficult.

Let’s see what each city has in store for us, starting with Grand Rapids:

An anonymous submitter writes of this spot: “It is on some of the most valuable riverfront land in the city. It even has a skywalk connection to it in the northeastern corner. I have been here over 20 years and there has been a lot of newer development in the immediate area, but for some strange reason this spot is still vacant.”

The parking blight in this part of Grand Rapids probably has something to do with that highway — U.S. Route 131 — cutting through the frame. (Boy, if you zoom in, is that highway empty.)

Let’s see if Salt Lake City can do worse:

This location comes to us via Mike Christensen, who explains the photo “shows the area around Energy Solutions Arena and the Salt Palace Convention Center with Temple Square just beyond. The second full-block parking crater is now sponsored by Lexus — as if that made it alright. Fortunately, this parking lot did serve a useful purpose during the 2002 Olympics as the Medals Plaza.”

Car companies sponsoring parking craters? Too perfect!

Let us know which of these locations you find most offensive by casting your vote below: