A parking system for vehicles includes a vehicle support platform adapted to support a vehicle over a parking area and having a rear end portion permitting travel of a vehicle thereacross, a front end portion, and side portions extending longitudinally between the rear and front end portions; and support apparatus for the platform located at a predetermined end portion of the parking area and adapted to engage the platform front end portion only. The support apparatus also includes lifting apparatus which is operative to cause an initial pivoting of the platform about the rear end portion such that the front end portion of the platform becomes elevated above the rear end portion, and which is also operative to cause an additional pivoting of the platform about the front end portion to elevate the rear end portion of the platform relative to the front end portion, thereby bringing the platform into a raised position and provide vertical clearance between the platform and the parking area that is sufficient to enable entry of a vehicle beneath the platform. The support apparatus supports the platform in the raised position, such that the front end portion of the platform is in vertical registration with the forward-most portion of the predetermined end portion of the parking area whereat the support apparatus is located; and the lifting apparatus is also operative to lower the platform to a lowered position whereat the rear end portion thereof is vertically adjacent to a ground surface, to allow travel of a vehicle between the platform and the ground surface.