City Parks Blog

The 100 largest U.S. cities added 120 new parks last year, but overall spending remained largely flat. Approximately half the cities experienced cuts in their parks budgets, forcing departments to defer maintenance costs even as usership grows.

In declaring Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia a National Monument, President Obama circumvents Congressional approval - which would be required to make it a National Park.

In San Francisco, almost one out of every six acres is slated to become parkland in the new urban infill projects in Mission Bay.

Union Station in Washington, D.C. has "about 29 million people" pass through the station each year. An 18-month reconstruction project is in the works to improve walkability and safety for the massive number of visitors.

Pollution has caused the Anacostia River to suffer, writes Ryan Donahue, and efforts to revitalize the area were put on hold just as the recession began. Since then, the District has implemented programs to help restore this neglected area.

In Washington, D.C., Capital Bikeshare just celebrated its "1st Birthday Bash" according to Coleen Gentles.

The City Parks blog looks at Santa Fe Railyard Park and Plaza, one of the winners of this year's Rudy Bruner Awards for Urban Excellence.

Ryan Donahue of the Trust for Public Land says that it depends on age, health, time availability, quality of surroundings, safety, climate, and many other factors.

City Parks Blog asked Peter Harnik to answer questions about his new book, Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities, that covers how cities can plan for parks as well as how to create them in 'all built-out' settings.

A string of connected parks laced through cities has been a vision of city planners since the days of Olmsted. Ben Welle of the Center for City Park Excellence has some ideas how that that vision can be implemented today.

Parks and trails can be used to create low carbon cities.

A new report issued by The Trust for Public Land details the park and recreation system acres and facilities of the nation's largest 77 cities. The report shows that Americans are flocking to their city parks more in a down economy.

Cities can expand transit service areas by providing convenient access by bike.