It’s true: COVID-19 has breathed new life into parking lots. As Neal Freyman of Morning Brew has observed:
- Churches, synagogues, and other places of worship have been holding radio broadcasted services in their parking lots.
- DJs in Germany have been hosting drive-in raves in parking lots.
- With libraries, schools, and coffee shops closed, parking lots have become a “digital lifeline” for many Americans needing to access wi-fi.
These adaptive uses may be temporary, but “curbside” delivery and “patio” or “outdoor” bar/restaurant seating may become permanent features of the modern-day parking lot (and shopping center sidewalks) long after the epidemic subsides.