Parking Poetry Contest – April 23, 2026
1st Prize
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Parking Poem
It was a sunny day downtown, skies polished bright,
Where cars zipped and zoomed in a glittering light.
Engines were humming, some calm, some absurd,
Some driving like “parking” was a competitive sport.
To City Creek’s garage, lower ground fame,
Where food court proximity wins you the game.
They circled and swerved with dramatic finesse,
For that perfect spot (you know… two steps less).
One driver triumphed “Victory is mine!”
He parked near the nuggets of Chick-fil-A divine.
He grabbed his ticket (important, you’d think),
Then tossed it away with his fries and his drink.
“Who needs this paper?” he laughed with a grin,
Then wandered off shopping at Apple Store to win.
A phone shine-new, a purchase complete
While fate softly chuckled, preparing defeat.
Two hours later… the exit, the gate…
A button is pressed – his patience? Not great.
“Ring ring!” goes the speaker, a calm, friendly tone:
“Hi, this is Megan, how can I help on the phone?”
“GET ME OUTTA HERE!” he yells at the sky,
As if gates just open when voices go high.
Megan stays chill, like a pro in the storm.
“Do you have your ticket, sir?” (calm and warm).
“NO! I threw it away! Now open this gate!”
(Consequences, it seems, had arrived just a bit late).
Megan replies, still kind as can be,
“Press ‘lost ticket fee’ – that should set you free.”
He growls and he grumbles, dramatic and loud,
“All you do is steal!” he declares to the crowd.
“I’m never returning!” – a bold final stand…
(Though probably next week, same garage, same demand).
Megan just smiles through the intercom line,
“Thank you, have a nice day,” – customer service divine.
So here’s the lesson, poetic and clear:
Keep track of your ticket… or pay for your fear.
Megan Harvey
2nd Prize -
10 Parking Attendants
Ten parking attendants went
ou tto dine
The Cheesecake Factory didn’t
validate, and then there were nine.
Nine parking attendants went
to check on the gate
A pedestrian had broke it,
and then there were eight.
Eight parking attendants went
to look for the golf cart from Heaven
Only one of them was able to
grab it, so then there were seven.
Seven parking attendants
wanted to see Kreston’s Lego bricks
One got lost in his great
collection, and then there were six.
Six parking attendants wanted
to drive.
One got a nail in their tire,
and then there were five.
Five parking attendants
wanted to stay out of the downpour
One forgot his coat, and then
there were four.
Four parking attendants went
ot grab a cart key
Another attendant took it
home, and then there were three.
Three parking attendants were
waiting for their cue
One forgot to turn on their
radio, and then there were two.
Two parking attendants were
helping someone
They couldn’t find his car,
and there there was one.
One parking attendant was
almost done
The clock finally hit 11:30,
and then there were none!
Cai Reveredo
3rd Prize -
This Section Full
Circling around
Level one I go again
I don’t read the signs.
Kreston Lee
Funniest –
I walk into the garage
To see granny getting a cardiac massage
Might need a new nanny
Cause what I saw is uncanny
Now I’m dodging a Camry
While carrying my coffee so canny.
Bryant G.
Best Parking Reserve Tie-In -
The Spot
The event I must go to see
the show
But first the search to park
my car I must
To the event I went so I will
crow
I am slow my search alas is a
bust
How rare the sight how sweet
the stall unused
Like a cool breeze on a warm
summer night
How long must I peruse the
lots I mused
I drive from lot to lot to
seek the sight
To the web I must go to seek
the spot
My search to parkwhiz it says
I must go
To Parking Reserve now that’s
the right lot
I Google my route and go to
the show
I hit the gas alas I’m slow
I’m late
To go unparked alas is my sad
fate
Ed Figeroa
Honorable Mention:
Monthly Parking Request
You want to park with us you say.
We hope you know you’ll have to pay.
While monthly parking can be nice.
You will have to pay the price.
North Temple Lot is much too far.
You won’t go there to park your car.
You’re not a tenant, so you see.
Elks Parking has a higher fee.
You cannot park at Eagle Gate.
Nor can we offer 95 State.
City Creek Garage P4.
Is yet another closed tight door.
Regent Street and OOP
Are much too full and so you see
The only option that you’ve got
Is to park your car at 5th South Lot.
Kreston Lee
Honorable Mention -
Mary
Mary had a little car
It fit into a compact spot
And one day when she came in
Her access card she forgot.
Yes, Mary had a little car,
The color, it was black.
And the style of the car you ask?
It was a simple hatchback.
Without her access card to use
Mary could not get in that day.
She called for help on the intercom
For she knew that was the way.
It just so happened at that hour
When Mary called for assistance,
It was our own Mary in control
Who answered in this instance.
So Mary spoke to Mary,
Yes that’s the way it happened.
And Mary opened up the gate
So Mary could get her car in.
Kreston Lee
I park .... a lot!
You park ... a lot!
Hence what we got
is this gnarly parking lot!
Mark Fredrickson
There once were some folks in the west,
Who embarked on the Parking Lot Quest
They were such a good crew
They had nothing to do,
But eat and make Parking Lot Jests.
Mark Fredrickson
Rolls are Red
Rolls Royces are red
Volkswagens are blue
I really love parking
And I know you do too!
Kreston Lee
No Free Parking
No free parking anytime.
That’s the beginning of this rhyme.
Monthly, Daily, Debit Card.
Event Parking, or EV Charge.
For all of these you’ll have to pay.
If you choose to park here today.
Kreston Lee
P-4 Nest
You must scan your card
To enter the p-4 nest.
No card, you pay fine.
Kreston Lee
Third Hour Free
The Cheesecake Factory
Will validate your ticket
Park for one more hour.
Kreston Lee
Missing Wage Works Check
There once were some parkers who pay
With a Wage Works check every May.
When the check didn’t come
They were stuck sucking their thumbs.
The gate wouldn’t open to drive away.
Kreston Lee
Working Control
Most people think it is not hard
To run a parking lot.
The worst thing that could go wrong, they think
Is access cards that get forgot.
But here are some of the intercom calls
That Martha got today.
This doesn’t even include
Those who just don’t want to pay.
An employee could not figure out
Where to scan his card.
“It’s just on the right side of the kiosk,
It’s really not that hard.”
“You have to scan your access card,
Even if the gates are up.”
“If you miss a single scan,
It can really screw things up.”
“If you lost your ticket,
You can pay the full day rate.”
“Or you can go back and look
At the table where you ate.”
“Apple Pay and Google Pay
Are methods we accept.”
“You must wait for all 4 lights to glow,
Or the system will reject.”
“The first two hours are still free
At the City Creek location.”
“But if you’re over by one minute
You’ll have to pay at the fee station.”
“This roll-up door won’t open,
And I’m late for work.”
“We’ll send maintenance right away
You don’t have to be such a jerk.”
That’s a joke, it really is.
Martha would absolutely never
Call a resident a jerk,
She’s really much more clever.
“You didn’t get a ticket?
Well just let me get your name.”
“When you’re ready to exit,
We’ll charge you just the same.”
The Park Place North Temple East Exit
Is not taking credit card payments.
“I will call Maintenance to fix it.
And open the gate for your convenience.”
“City Creek Rover I need you to go,
And block off the lane to stop the traffic flow.”
“Supervisor – copy? Why is there no Rover?”
“If they are on lunch I’ll need you to cover.”
I guess that’s all,
This Poem is done.
Martha has no more to say.
She will just end the call by wishing you “g’day.” (That
should be in an Australian accent)
Kreston Lee
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Event Parking |
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Utah Mammoth hockey game |
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Or Jazz Basketball, |
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Downtown events are all the same |
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A fun time had by all. |
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Show at Abravanell Hall |
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A Salt Palace convention. |
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Or shopping at the mall. |
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Too many things to mention. |
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Fireside on Temple Square |
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or Eccles Theater play |
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We always want to be there, |
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Even if we have to pay. |
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For these things we love embarking. |
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Dang it we have to find some parking. |
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Kreston Lee
A Squishy
Parking Cone
A squishy
parking cone
Or stress
reliever car
Can be found
on Kreston’s desk
Go look,
it’s not too far.
But if you
see an orange cone
Out in the
parking lot
You’d best
slow down right away.
Squishy your
car is not.
Kreston Lee
Ode to a Parking Cone
Parking cones come in many sizes and shapes
From small orange triangles to large metal gates
Barriers to protect drivers and cars
Candlesticks guiding through hazards and scars.
Big orange barrels to block off a lane
Or standard cones to save a spot for the game.
Yes, parking cones are such wonderful tools
To write such an ode, you must be a parking fool.
Kreston Lee
History of Parking
Twenty-seven years is a very long time
To work parking in Salt Lake, so now you get this rhyme.
I’ve been here through ZSC, and UTPMA,
Then City Creek Parking and Parking Reserve today.
The name is not the only thing
That has changed over the years.
Go ahead ask Raphael,
He’s the only one still here.
The ZCMI Center and Crossroads Mall Garages
Once stood upon the ground where the City Creek Center now
is.
Promised Valley Playhouse and the UP&L Lot
Have been replaced by OOP and have nearly been forgot.
The Regent Street Garage, stands in the same location,
However, the exit ramp has moved, one more whole rotation.
The East side of Eagle Gate is much as it always was,
But Social Hall Terrace was torn down, for the west side to
become.
Plaza Hotel and West Temple Lot
Were added then removed.
500 South and North Temple
Are really rather new.
Park Place Lot was one time three,
Then the Olympics Medal Plaza
Now back under our control,
Give a loud cheer Hazzah!
Social Hall Plaza Parking
Has been expanded
Now it includes Harmons and 95 State
Much better if we’re being candid.
Other parking that is gone,
Museum Lot and old Lot 2
Also, on Block 41.
I know where those are, do you?
Our office has also moved many times.
The Tunnel, then the Tower, Then Eagle Gate for a time.
Now we are at City Creek, but still in the basement.
I’m sure we’ll never get a window, but this is still the
best yet!
It has been a very long time,
My memory has quite the range.
And yet it is our goal this year,
To prioritize change!
Kreston Lee
Flash!
Barry Allen is The Flash
The Fastest Man Alive.
Flash is also our PARC system,
It helps the people drive.
Barry can run so fast,
He can phase right through a wall.
Our Flash system let’s us answer
All the intercom calls.
Flash can outrun all the rogues
Like Captain Cold or the Top.
Flash can issue AVIs
So drivers don’t have to stop.
Flash works with other superheroes,
He’s in the Justice League.
Park Whiz, which is part of Flash,
Manages our event feeds.
Flash uses a Cosmic Treadmill
To travel back in time.
Flash gates are so simple,
There’s never any grime.
The Scarlet Speedster gets his power
Straight from the Speed Force.
The Flash system, it never rests,
It’s a real workhorse.
The Flash is Barry Allen,
DC’s Fastest Man Alive.
Our Parking System, Also Flash
Helps all our parkers lives.
Kreston Lee
Colors and Critters
City Creek Parking Garage has a way
To help you remember where you parked
Colors and Critters will make you think hey,
It’s just like Noah’s ark.
On the east side we start with P1
The level is colored all Blue
And on each wall you will see Bears
It’s just like a day at the zoo.
P2 East is next in line
The color is Yellow so bright.
The Cougar is fine,
But we all know it will lose to a Ute in a fight.
East P3 is next the next one here,
Red is the color of fun.
Jack Rabbit, it’s a kind of Hare
Might lose to a tortoise in a run
Level P4 is the end of the east
Brown is the color of soil.
A Mountain Goat has to work for his feast
Climbing a mountain’s a toil.
Now on to the west side starting with level one, often full
Orange gives the level a glow
The Utah state bird is of course the Sea Gull
There’s plenty of parking below.
Next is level P2 on the west
Green is the color we see
The Beaver builds river structures the best
Their dams block the way to the sea.
P3 on the west side is no slacker.
The color Purple is funner.
Wile E. Coyote uses Acme firecrackers
As he tries to catch that dang road runner.
Finally, we come to west side P4
The color is just a drab Gray
Deer can be seen roaming this floor.
If you listen, they might have something to say.
And so now we’re done with City Creek Parking
The Colors and Critters we know.
To Regent Street next we will be embarking
Classic Theaters each level will show.
Kreston Lee
Parking Structures
A true joy to navigate
Said no one ever!
Scott Snow/Chat GPT
The Price
Enter lot for free
Citation you’ll receive
Pay you must you see
Ed Figueroa
Try I must you see
An aspirering bard to be
Take pitty on me
Ed Figeroa
M&M
Megan and Martha are queens of the realm.
They run the office AM to PM.
Answering all the intercom calls.
And resolving support tickets all.
That’s why we call them M&M.
Kreston Lee
A battle for a single space
Soon becomes a big stalemate
Who will win nobody knows
But that's just how parking goes
Matthew Weight
Romeo
Romeo, Romeo
where didst thou park?
Do you
remember a level number?
A letter, a
color, or animal from the ark?
Losing your
car is such a big blunder.
Was it on
the East side?
Where Juliet
is the sun?
Or was it
the West
Where your
journey begun?
Alas, poor
Yorick,
If he were
around,
Might know
the trick
For the car
to be found.
Oh wait,
that’s the wrong play.
In Romeo and
Juliet, I forgot,
Yorick and
his friends don’t know the way.
For about
Hamlet this poem is not.
So, who can
help Romeo find his car?
Is there a
kind Friar or Maid?
No, we can’t
find them, but you know what there are?
Rovers on
golf carts who get paid!
Kreston Lee
You Can’t Park There
Is really quite the chore
There are so many spots on earth
That you just can’t park anymore.
You can’t park your car in a pond,
It really is not at all allowed,
Even if you use the door.
You can’t park your car by the bridge.
Maybe you already know,
But maybe you forgot.
Parking in your apartment
building
Is not recommended.
Will be quite offended.
Even though I have said this,
I know that someone will.
It’s not a good idea.
You cannot park up on the
roof,
With all of these
restrictions,
Limiting our parking spots.
It’s really a good thing to
know
Parking Reserve has many
lots.
Kreston Lee
I Am Parking
I’ve parked cars for
thirty-two years
I have memories of
friendships and fun
I’ve parked all sorts of cars
Some even for Stars
Like Redford at Sundance for
one.
Through this life full of
cars
Parking’s what I’ve become
It’s the song I have come to
know best.
The race of the engine,
The squeak of the tires,
It’s the drum of the Parking
Cortege.
So, pull in my lot
Ill find you a spot
And I’ll care for your
precious sedan.
You’ve nothing to lose but a
few sawbucks
For a stall with the best in
the land!
Scott Snow
Parking by Betty Hubbard
Parking here parking there
You can see parking everywhere
If you travel near or far
Look for a car park not a bar
When you work in parking for so long
You will start to feel you belong
It’s a special kind of group
You will start to know the scoop
Let me give you a tip
When you take a trip
Take picture shots
Make sure you get lots
You will point out parking features
Because you are an awesome creature
Being a parking nerd
Means you’re part of the herd
Even when you do not stay
It will be in your blood until
your dying day!
This is an exit not an entrance
You’re not allowed in here
So turn around, turn around,
go to the entrance gate
Don’t forget your ticket
You’ll need that later
Hopefully you grab a val
So turnaround, turn around,
go to the entrance gate
Brittney Sprague
Working in the mall looking
at the clock tik tok
Counting down the minutes
while I’m standing on the dock.
The lights are dim and low
but every two hours in and out I have to go.
Parking Haiku
Our parkers observe
Best experience (deserve!)
At Parking Reserve
Aguie Stoneman
Parking in the Dark
We knew the flaw in Shaw
But now we hve Ryan who
Seems to be fry’n, 5000K
throughout
Its dark no more.
Shawn Smith
FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST.
WE PATROL AT OUR BEST.
RACKING CITATION BY CITATION.
WITH NO HESITATION.
UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS, FUMING
WITH FRUSTRATION.
I POINT TOWARDS THE BLUE SIGN
UPON WHERE THEY CAME IN.
PARKING IS NOT FREE.
IF YOU BREAK THE GATE THAT’S
ONE BIG FEE.
PARK AT CITY CREEK. RATES ARE
MUCH LOWER.
DON’T WORRY IF YOU GET LOST,
FIND A ROVER.
LIGHTS FLASHING, YELLOW VEST.
THEY KNOW THE GARAGE BEST.
Saree Kekahuna
