markalex (Sep 17 2026 at 13:06): markalex (Sep 17 2026 at 13:06):From time to time I stumble upon area that is tagged as brownfield, but which is used as a parking (sometimes improvised, sometimes organised).
Latest example of organised one I've seen: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1087347432
https://www.mapillary.com/app/?pKey=1024894743660992
It is not marked with signs, but with gates present, I don't believe it's an improvised one. So technically land is in use, right?
Should brownfield be removed here, and replaced with parking?
If so, would it also be correct move for improvised parkings organised on unused land?
HellMap (Sep 18 2026 at 16:05):Yeah, this is potentially complicated. When does a brownfield stop being a brownfield if the area is "used"? Like, how much area? Is it still functionally a brownfield, just with an extra parking lot? Or has parking replaced the brownfield? Or has the brownfield area been reduced and now it's part brownfield, part parking. I really don't know what I would do.
markalex (Sep 25 2026 at 16:17):https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/when-brownfield-stops-being-a-brownfield/148089
Rihards Olups (Oct 08 2026 at 16:32):I'd go for parking mapped in the area that is generally used for that purpose.
Whether it's on top of the existing area or replaces it - could be either.
The "as long as it’s not an official parking" position, mentioned in the community thread, is tricky. If the owner starts parking their vehicles in some area (no signs needed), it's not "official" perhaps, but the OSM principle of mapping what's on the ground seems to clearly point at mapping it as a parking.
Last updated: Oct 26 2026 at 11:30 UTC