The city’s parks are facing a crisis on the horizon resulting from a lack of maintenance and growing capital improvement needs.

New York City parks will need significant repairs in coming years, reports Harry DiPrinzio. "Across the city’s older parks, elements like retaining walls, drainage systems and pathways are showing signs of age as many of them were built in the early 20th century."
The city’s most recent assets review indicates that the Parks Department needs $615.5 million in capital funding to address aging infrastructure. DiPrinzio says the piecemeal budgeting process makes it hard to gather funding for less visible, but much-needed and essential, structural projects.
Parks also need more capital improvements to prepare for the impact of growing climate change threats, especially higher temperatures and heavy rains. But the scope of the problem is even broader, notes DiPrinzio. "While there is a significant backlog of capital projects in need of funding, city wide, advocates say funding for routine maintenance through a yearly budget allocation is just as important."
FULL STORY: Evidence of Growing Need for Capital in the City’s Aging Parks

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Making Mobility More Inclusive
A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
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