A parking lot is a designated area for vehicle parking, either at grade (surface lots) or in structures (parkades or parking garages). Municipal parking lots serve downtown visitors, event venues, transit stations, and public facilities. Lot design considerations include capacity, accessibility, lighting, security, drainage, and traffic flow. Municipalities may own and operate parking lots or partner with private operators. Surface lots are less expensive to build but consume valuable land, while structures cost more but accommodate more vehicles. Parking lot management involves rate setting, maintenance, technology for payment and access control, and integration with broader transportation and land use planning.