In and around just our downtowns we have more than 4,000 acres of surface parking lots - that's about 6.5 square miles solely dedicated to parking our cars. Other regions have been reclaiming that land - termed "gray fields" by architects because of the sea of asphalt - by building multi-tier parking lots in some areas to free up space in others for housing, civic centers, or open space. Some communities have been changing their traffic patterns to encourage more strolling, shopping, and human interaction. In other words, it's time to rethink the hustle and bustle in and out of our cars, and instead usher in time to walk and enjoy our downtown communities. With good design and top-notch planning, a lot of people are reinventing the speed within which we live our lives and in particular, our downtowns.