If you Love Your Park Lands, like we do, you might occasionally hear criticism from people who have latched onto a Park Lands myth.

This month, we’re MYTH-BUSTING the claim that “car parking is a legitimate use of Park Lands.”

What’s wrong with car parking on your Park Lands? It’s handy to have somewhere close to town to park your car.

But think for a moment: What exactly is the idea of a Park? Why do we value “Open, Green, Public” spaces?

Not Green

Car parks that have been sealed with bitumen are no longer green. Even on grass, vehicle movements compact soil, and kill flora and fauna.  

NOT OPEN, NOR PUBLIC

Whether a car parking place is green, or is sealed with bitumen, each car parking space effectively privatises an additional few square metres. The space occupied by each car is no longer Open nor Public while the car remains.

DISCOURAGES OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORT

Permitting car parking on Park Lands means there’s less incentive to develop public transport. 

There is less incentive for active commuting: such as walking or cycling, which improve public health.

There is less incentive to encourage shared forms of transport; such as ride-sharing vehicles, rented e-scooters and e-bikes.

DISRESPECTS PARK LANDS

Having car parks on your Park Lands encourages disrespect for your Park Lands. 

It’s not consistent with the idea of Loving Your Park Lands. It does not value your Park Lands as Open Green Public resources.

In New York, there are a dozen public car parks within an easy walk of the city’s famous Central Park. However no part of Central Park is set aside for car parking.

New Yorkers value and respect their Open, Green, Public Central Park.

In contrast, Adelaide’s Park Lands contain dozens of car parks, with spaces for thousands of cars.

UNDERCUTS CITY BUSINESSES

There are many commercial car parks in the City. The owner of each car park (including the City Council with its “U-Park” sites) has invested heavily in providing convenient car parking sites (for a price).

Offering car parking in Park Lands effectively undercuts these City businesses, and reduces their profitability.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE?

If car parking were a legitimate use of your Open Green Public Adelaide Park Lands, then the city could be ringed by a circle of car parks; with plenty of car parking for everyone.

See the other Park Lands Myth Busters https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/myth-busters