With this large park surrounded by homes and businesses, you might think there would be lots of off-street parking--there's not. There are a total of 31 parking spaces for the park itself (Actually, these are for a later addition to the park. The park itself was built with no off-street parking of its own).Yet I've never had any trouble finding a parking space--despite the park being packed most days I've visited (these pictures are from a Monday late afternoon). I park parallel onstreet where there is plenty of parking.
In contrast, most sprawl parks have huge parking lots. The message is clear ("Sorry, little Johnny, you'll have to wait until your chauffeur..er Mom arrives to drive you to the playground.")
So how do McKinley Park's businesses and apartments provide parking? They put it behind the buildings,
down alleys. The alley pictured backs up to businesses and apartments.
There are lots of big houses--very expensive mansions--but right next to them are several styles of apartments. Here are a clutch of one-story cottages on a large lot with alley parking behind them:
There are also some bigger apartment complexes. Here is a larger apartment complex next to offices across from the park (the offices and park are to the left):
The park itself is a healthy place, full of joggers and cyclists. Why? Because not only does it have a nice, decomposed granite jogging track circling the park, but the neighbors can get there on foot, on streets that look like this:
.
Notice that the mower strip, trees, and onstreet parking are a barrier to the passing traffic, while the sidewalk is at least 5' wide. Notice too that the street lamps are 10' - 14' tall, which means they have pedestrian-friendly light (not the blinding light of sprawl streetlights). Walking down such streets
is a dignified experience. You are not walking next to fast-moving traffic, indian file on a narrow sidewalk (no conversations, please!), soon to be spotted by the folks with Uzis in the guard tower....But I exaggerate.