Ssssh! Don't Tell Anyone, But...

 Here's a little known shameful secret of a number of cities in the United States (and most likely other countries).

When fire hydrants are made obsolete (for various reasons - new construction may require fire hydrants to be added closer to a building, or a water main may be rerouted, or a mall or entire area that the fire hydrant served becomes derelict and is then bulldozed, etc.), it is the policy of a number of cities to leave the useless fire hydrants right where they are.

Why?

Parking ticket revenue.