Why Vienna Is Turning Parking Into Parks

Vienna’s 18th district is making it possible for residents to turn parking spots into grätzloasen—small neighborhood oases. The city even offers up to €5,000 in grants to help. What replaces asphalt is often benches, trees, planters, or play spaces where cars once sat. It’s a reminder that parking isn’t sacred; it’s just one way to use space. By giving residents the option to reclaim even a single stall, Vienna is showing how streets can shift from car storage to community. The change is modest in scale but big in impact: more greenery, more social interaction, and a more livable city at the block level. Imagine this in the U.S.—the pushback would be loud. But Vienna demonstrates what happens when policy meets creativity: small moves unlock big cultural change.