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

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie