We used to call those areas hell strips when I lived in Denver. Some plants that I grew successfully there included Stella d'Oro daylilies, bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum), prairie winecups (Callirhoe involucrata), soapwort (saponaria ocymoides) and Ralph's Creeper groundcover rose. Some of those plants, such as the prairie winecups, may require more dryness than you have in your yard, but you might take a look at them.

Thank you Deb!

You want something, tough, evergreen, will stand up to foot traffic and drought tolerant. Nothing fancy or flowery - it will just get trashed. In the PNW your choices would include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick), cotoneaster or Rubus calycinoides. Creeping thyme would work also but is less tolerant of foot traffic than the other three.

Hi garden gal - thank you. I forgot to mention that I put a low (three flat stones high) wall around the parking strip area, so I think people will be less likely to walk across it. I love the look of the creeping thyme and am hoping it can work. Any thoughts on propagating the creeping thyme or the bearberry? Those are my lead choices for the area. Also, I have a wire plant in the backyard, could that possibly be used for a ground cover? It seems to spread rapidly.