Will ‘Worst Parking Crater’ Award Produce Policy Change?

Streetsblog doesn’t pull any punches with its “Golden Crater” award—an award for the worst parking crater in the country, selected by a March Madness style tournament. This year's winner/loser: Rochester, New York.

1 minute read

April 10, 2014, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


“An asphalt scar in Rochester, New York, has triumphed over 15 of the world’s worst parking craters to become the Parking Madness 2014 champion,” writes Angie Schmitt for Streetsblog USA. Rochester won/lost by appealing to nostalgia—the entry included a parcel map of the parking crater’s previous life. Before, this crisscrossing network of streets surrounded by nothing but surface parking lots included a park. In fact, according to the Rochester ex-pat who nominated the city, it used to be “a real neighborhood.”

The local stakeholders who pressed for Rochester to win this dubious title hope that the ignominy might inspire reform of Rochester’s parking policies. Mike Governale, who runs the Reconnect Rochester advocacy group, tells Streetsblog that he sees the award as a tool: “I think we can use this going forward, get more people involved. We can go to our policy makers and say, ‘Is this the image you want out there?’ Because if it’s not, we need to plan a little bit better.”

This year’s tournament process already inspired Yael Abouhalkah to pen a sympathetic editorial in the Kansas City Star about an area in Downtown Kansas City that eventually lost to Rochester in the semi-finals of the tournament. Last year’s winner/loser, Tulsa, seemed headed to toward a moratorium on surface parking before it hesitated.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014 in Streetsblog USA

stack of books

Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023

The world is changing, and planning with it.

November 24, 2023 - Planetizen Team

Close-up of 'Red Line Subway Entry' sign with Braille below and train logo above text in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side

The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.

November 24, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

Diagram of visibility at urban intersection.

How ‘Daylighting’ Intersections Can Save Lives

Eliminating visual obstructions can make intersections safer for all users.

November 27, 2023 - Strong Towns

People walking on paved path in green city park with trees and tall city skyscrapers in background.

Green Spaces Benefit Neighborhoods—When Residents can Reach Them

A study comparing green space and walkability scores found that, without effective access to local parks, residents of greener neighborhoods don’t reap the health benefits.

December 3 - American Heart Association News

Aerial view of Eugene, Oregon at dusk with mountains in background.

Eugene Ends Parking Minimums

In a move that complies with a state law aimed at reducing transportation emissions, Eugene amended its parking rules to eliminate minimum requirements and set maximum parking lot sizes.

December 3 - NBC 16

White, blue, and red Chicago transit bus at an urban bus station with shelter.

Chicago Announces ‘Better Streets for Buses’ Plan

The plan establishes a ‘toolkit’ of improvements to make the bus riding experience more reliable, comfortable, and accessible.

December 3 - City of Chicago

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

"Rethinking Commuter Rail" podcast & Intercity Bus E-News

Chaddick Institute at DePaul University

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.