In the last five decades, New York City has built 200 new parks.
In 1970, NYC Parks headcount was 11,000. Forty-five years later, and we are looking at a headcount of only 7,000.
A simple math question: How can we have 200 more parks today and 4,000 fewer Parks workers?
Parks only continue to exist if they are maintained by people. We demand the mayor fulfill his campaign promise to devote 1% of the budget to Parks.
If you're not doing Community-Based Collaborative Equity Research (CBCER), are you truly addressing the issues of inequality and social justice? This approach is grounded in priciples of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared decision-making, aiming to produce research that is relevant, actionable, and beneficial to the community involved. The next stop, Chaffee County:
“As Diesel mentioned, there are a lot of assets they’re looking to develop here,” Swann said. “With community buy-in, what is most important to the voters and residents of Chaffee County? … Ultimately, we are asking these communities to foot the bill for these types of measures … so we want to make sure there’s buy-in there.”
Chaffee County is exploring a Recreation Special District to boost funding for parks in Salida, Buena Vista, and Poncha Springs. Trust for Public Land is in early talks on structuring it, focusing on various funding sources, tax impacts, and examples from other communities. A feasibility report is next to help guide the best path forward for all jurisdictions. #ChaffeeCounty#Recreation#CommunityDevelopmenthttps://lnkd.in/gpj5f-vM
Strategic leader focused on initiating and implementing innovative programs. Strong strategic, operational, and problem-solving skills. Public health, climate, cities.
Trust for Public Land has released its 2024 ParkScore® report—and one finding is clear: parks have the power to strengthen our communities. This year's report finds that residents of cities with the highest rankings are more socially connected and engaged with their neighbors. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gAKk8pRF.
Despite 99% of New York City residents having access to a park, NYC recently dropped from 10th to 12th place in a ranking of the 100 most populous cities in the USA. The reason? Other leading cities are outpacing us in per capita park investments.
While New York City invested $202 per person, Washington DC dedicated $345 per capita to their parks. It's evident that investing in green spaces significantly impacts a city's livability and overall well-being.
Find the report here: https://lnkd.in/gnjD7Z-p
Let's continue supporting and advocating for parks and green spaces in NYC.
Let’s face it: state parks deserve more. Although many Californians love the state’s parks, they are not aware that many of these places are state parks.
With a looming budget deficit that may cut off access programs and much-needed funding, this lack of awareness can lead to missed opportunities for all Californians to enjoy the parks and a shortage of financial support and vital stewardship state parks need to thrive.
Read John McKinney’s Los Angeles Times op-ed, “Californians love the state’s parks. We just don’t know they’re state parks,” here: https://ow.ly/NJo050RHkgo.
Tomorrow, over one hundred NPCA staffers and dedicated volunteers are heading to Capitol Hill to push Congress to protect — and fund — our national parks.
While NPCA meets with members of Congress and the administration regularly about challenges impacting our national parks, our annual lobby day gives park advocates from across the country the opportunity to collectively speak up for the future of their national parks and communities.
National parks are reaching a critical breaking point from declining budgets and staff, skyrocketing visitation, cumulating maintenance needs and worsening climate disasters. The good news: There are solutions available for lawmakers to act on right now.
We're focused on four key actions this Park Advocacy Week:
1. Increase park funding by at least $250 million to help bring back thousands of park staff
2. Extend the Great American Outdoors Act to help #FixOurParks
3. Preserve our history by enacting the Cultural Resource Challenge
4. Tell the story of all Americans by supporting individual bills that expand our National Park System, including the Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act, Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act and Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act.
Learn more on our blog!
#ParkAdvocacy#FundOurParks#ParkProtection#LobbyDay#HillDay#NationalParks#ParkAdvocate
Currently Aspiring Educational leader and Doctoral Candidate.NYS K-12 Certified Physical Education Teacher. NYS School Building Leadership (SDL) certified. Current pursuing School District Leader (SDL) certification.
I am still waiting for him to underfund the most important department in NYC- The Public School Educational System. The educational budget of public schools in NYC can have detrimental effects on the quality of education and the overall well-being of students. Here are five reasons why it is a bad idea:
1. Decreased Resources: Cutting the educational budget would mean a reduction in resources available to schools, such as textbooks, technology, and learning materials. This can hinder students' access to essential tools for effective learning and limit their educational opportunities.
2. Staffing Cuts: Budget cuts may lead to a reduction in the number of teachers, support staff, and counselors. Larger class sizes and fewer support services can diminish the individual attention and support that students need to succeed academically and emotionally.
3. Limited Extracurricular Activities: Educational budget cuts often result in the elimination or reduction of extracurricular activities such as sports, music, art, and clubs. These activities play a crucial role in fostering students' creativity, physical well-being, teamwork, and personal development. Cutting them can negatively impact students' overall educational experience.
4. Achievement Gap Widening: Budget cuts tend to affect schools in lower-income areas disproportionately. By reducing resources and support for these schools, the achievement gap between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds can widen. This exacerbates educational inequities and limits opportunities for marginalized students to succeed.
5. Long-Term Economic Impact: Investing in education is vital for the future economic prosperity of a city. By cutting the educational budget, we risk compromising the quality of education provided to students. This can lead to a less educated workforce, reduced job opportunities, and a decline in economic growth for the city in the long run.
It is crucial to prioritize and invest in education to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success in their future endeavors. Cutting the educational budget of public schools in NYC would have far-reaching negative consequences for students, communities, and the city as a whole.
Just received great news from a few of my colleagues: funding has been restored to the Parks Opportunity Program (POP) at NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
A tremendous thank you to all those who've posted about it on LinkedIn and social media, made phone calls and sent e-mails to your local elected officials, and worked non-stop to make this happen. I can't stress enough how important this program is to New York City.
Take a look at the press release and video from City Hall:
#newyorkstrong#nycparks#workforcedevelopment#strongertogetherhttps://lnkd.in/gztmpxBG
Parks are essential for a healthy, thriving community. During the pandemic, we realized that access to green spaces is vital for relaxation, socialization, and well-being.
Not everyone has a backyard. Parks offer an equitable way for all residents to connect with nature.
Studies show that spending time in nature reduces stress levels and improves mental health.
Trees and greenery absorb carbon, reduce pollution, and cool our city during hot summers.
As climate change intensifies, we must prioritize parks and green spaces. Neighborhoods with fewer trees can be up to 20 degrees hotter than those with ample greenery.
Let’s protect our parks and urge the San Jose city council to vote NO on these fee cuts.
https://lnkd.in/gavCKxMg
🚦 Fight Over Single Family Neighborhoods Ends With Approval Of New Land Use Plan 🚦(I uploaded the plan for your information.)
The Dallas City Council has approved the Forward Dallas 2.0 plan after a tense and lengthy debate, marking a significant update to the city’s land use policy.
The plan has drawn strong opinions on both sides, especially regarding its impact on single-family neighborhoods and environmental justice.
What's in the Plan?
Forward Dallas 2.0 aims to balance the city’s development needs with environmental and community concerns.
One key change addresses industrial and residential compatibility issues, which have long been a concern for residents and advocacy groups alike.
The plan includes protections for single-family neighborhoods, addressing fears of unrestricted multi-family housing development.
What People Are Saying:
Supporters argue that the plan will help prevent past environmental issues from recurring and represents a fair compromise between community needs and development goals.
Opponents, however, view the plan as a potential threat to “established” neighborhoods, with some calling it a “developer’s dream” that could alter the character of residential areas.
After numerous amendments and intense debate, the plan passed with an 11-4 vote. Proponents see this as a step forward for Dallas, while some opponents feel their concerns have been sidelined.
What do you think?
Is Forward Dallas 2.0 a balanced approach to land use in a growing city, or does it miss the mark when it comes to protecting established neighborhoods?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the future of Dallas and urban planning in our communities.
#LocalGovernment#UrbanPlanning#Dallas#LandUsePolicy#CommunityDevelopment#SustainableCities
Passed in 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act serves as a legal and funding tool to assist with initiatives to provide more green space for residents in rural and urban communities. The Outdoors for All Act, currently awaiting Senate approval, would expand on this progress by increasing access to parks and green spaces in low-income communities and communities of color.
Read our latest Insight article, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘈𝘤𝘵: 𝘈 𝘛𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩, by the Network's Leah Terry, below.
🔗: https://lnkd.in/eM4pKmWM
So important for our cities to be planned with USEABLE urban green space for everyone and not continue promoting the unusable left over green spaces that often meet minimum code requirements. Parks provide instrumental foundational social and health functions in our communities and too often are dismissed and reduced to meeting a greenspace code requirement. They should be planned as primary organizing elements of our communities.
Hopefully if this passes cities will prioritize their planning differently and actually fund parks better as a true public infrastructure and not be seen as just checking the boxes of meeting minimum requirements.
Earlier this week, the House of Representatives advanced a package of bills containing the #OutdoorsforAll Act! The Outdoors for All Act will codify the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP), which supports the development of urban parks in traditionally underserved neighborhoods. Most importantly, it will increase access to parks and green spaces regardless of a person’s background, income, or zip code.
This is a huge step for the 100 million people across the U.S. who lack safe and easy access to a quality park within a ½ mile walk of their home. Now, let’s keep the momentum going and get the #OutdoorsforAll Act through the Senate!
Find out more at https://lnkd.in/eKgdi5Ns.
#EXPLOREAct#OutdoorsForAllAct#CityParksAdvocate
As we look ahead to 2025, The Next Summit is committed to addressing two critical issues affecting public land access in Colorado.
Building on the success of our Fix CRUS campaign, we’re excited to partner with like-minded individuals and organizations to make our vision of a more accessible Colorado a reality.
1. Securing Public Access to Colorado Waterways 🚣🏼♂️ 🌊
Legal battles continue over who owns Colorado's riverbeds. We're pushing for legislative clarity to ensure our waterways remain accessible for recreational purposes like fishing and rafting.
2. Addressing the Checkerboard Ownership Conundrum 🏁 🤷🏼♂️
The checkerboard pattern of public and private land ownership creates barriers for outdoor recreation. We’re advocating for legislation to legalize corner crossing, unlocking thousands of acres of public land for responsible use.
Be The Change! 📣
Clear, fair laws promote outdoor recreation, protect natural resources, and support local economies. Your support can help us make these policy changes a reality.
Join us in ensuring everyone can enjoy Colorado’s great outdoors responsibly. 🌲
🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gQqdzj5b#PublicLandAccess#OutdoorRecreation#Colorado#EnvironmentalAwareness#TheNextSummit
