An outdoors enthusiast laments the explosive sprawl that is quickly sucking up places to hunt and fish in the state of Texas.
Richard Parker writes about the sprawl creping across Texas:
"As the heart of Texas — the Texas Triangle — swells with population, the cornfields and sunflower stands recede before the march of the suburbs. But there is a glimmer of hope because ranchers and environmentalists, hunters and city dwellers now have something crucial in common: harnessing the runaway development of the suburbs and exurbs."
According to Parker's research:
"more than 80 percent of rural Texas is privately owned, and we are turning ranchland and farmland into suburbs faster than any state in the country, according to the Texas General Land Office. In the 25 years preceding 2007, 7.5 million rural and farmland acres had been plowed under for development, according to the Farmland Information Center."
For lessons in teaching people to appreciate and enjoy the outdoors, Parker looks to Arizona, which in recent years "has opened millions of acres of private land to public access and is paying farmers and ranchers for another million. This ensures that dove season here is still the most democratic hunt: cheap, simple, wide-open to novice and expert alike."
FULL STORY: Richard Parker: As the Lone Star State booms, our wide-open spaces shrink
Maine Law Promotes Smart Growth
New state legislation encourages cities to plan around ‘smart growth’ principles to preserve farmland and open space, and use infill development to build more housing.
Parks Endowment Ready to Develop Park-Adjacent Land in Louisville
The Parklands of Floyds Fork has attracted development attention for years, but now the endowment that fought for the park's creation is proposing a development on land adjacent to the park to help fund the maintenance of the Parklands.
Urban Growth Boundaries Gone Awry: Protection Without Infill
Joe Mathews of Zócalo Public Square views with a great deal of skepticism the urban growth boundaries the voters of Ventura County adjacent to Los Angeles County have enacted since 1995 due to the lack of infill. Another measure is on the ballot.
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