Petty annoyance #47: What is with this trend toward making parking lots more visually interesting than useful?

This is a fairly trivial issue but it does influence where I choose to shop. I don’t visit stores to admire the beauty of the landscaping. I want to park reasonably close to the door, get in and get out as quickly as possible.

The problem is that newer shopping centers (and remodeled older ones) occupy half of the most functional spaces with random concrete islands and curbs that do nothing to direct traffic flow, but rather cause lane obstructions and make it difficult to even get to an exit. And when it snows and people are constantly running into these unexpected obstructions? Fugetaboutit! You’re living in this lot for a while.

Who decided that parking lots had to be more than utilitarian? Does the concrete forms lobby have a powerful influence over the city council?

I realize this seems silly, but I’ll really go 1 mile out of my way to shop somewhere without these frustrations. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed this?