With designs by architect Thomas Heatherwick and Landscape Architect Mathews Nielsen, a park proposal for the Hudson River would make a splashy addition to the neighborhood that boasts the south end of the High Line.
Charles V. Bagli and Robin Pogrebin report about a plan to build an offshore park near 14th Street in Manhattan sponsored by Billionaire Barry Diller. According to Bagli and Pogrebin, "[the park] would be a bold addition to the Manhattan waterfront — a $170 million, futuristic park built atop an undulating platform 186 feet off the Hudson River shoreline with a series of wooded nooks and three performance venues, including an amphitheater."
"Mr. Diller, the chairman of IAC/InterActiveCorp and former head of Paramount Pictures and Fox, has agreed to provide $130 million to build the park through a family foundation; an additional $39.5 million would come from the city, the state and the Hudson River Park Trust."
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio are both reported to support the project, and the project will still require approval from the project only needs approval from the Hudson River Park Trust full board, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the state Department of Environmental Conservation to move forward with construction in 2016. The article goes on to detail the political implications of the park, such as the long difficulty in developing along the Hudson River and the issue of private control over public space.
FULL STORY: With Bold Park Plan, Mogul Hopes to Leave Mark on New York’s West Side

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie