Cheaper Parking Bathed in Purple in Walnut Creek

A new on-street parking regime comes with a royal purple color scheme in a ritzy suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area.

1 minute read

September 24, 2017, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Main Street

Main Street in Walnut Creek is a popular shopping and entertainment destination. | Todd A. Merport / Shutterstock

San Francisco suburb Walnut Creek "now has a whole zone dedicated to long-term parking that didn’t exist before," reports Sam Richards.

"Approximately 1,000 spaces in an area bounded by Civic Drive on the east and south, Parkside Drive on the north and California Boulevard (and a short stretch of Main Street) on the west are now long-term spaces, at $1 an hour all day," according to Richards. A recent parking study found those spaces have been falling below the desired levels of occupancy, so the city is making changes to "even out the parking demand."

But one unique angle on this common story of a city tinkering with its on-street parking regulations, is the color the city is choosing to call attention to the new long-term parking spots. "A number of pole colors were considered for the newly christened long-term parking meters north of the downtown core area before city officials settled on purple," explains Richards.

Thursday, September 21, 2017 in East Bay Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Bird's eye view of half-circle suburban street with large homes.

In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City

If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.

1 hour ago - Investopedia

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

June 15 - Fast Company