Leslie Koch, the president and chief executive of the Trust for Governors Island, in the Hills on Thursday. After leading the trust for a decade, she is announcing her retirement.

Matt A.V. Chaban reports on the forthcoming culmination of an ongoing project to remake Governors Island in New York, and the woman behind it all.
First, a description of the big day for Governors Island, coming this summer:
At 10 a.m. on July 19, the final section of Governors Island, known as the Hills, will open to the public. Some 10 acres of ridges, paths, slides and lawns will rise seven stories over the harbor, providing panoramic views of New York City.
The Hills is the final piece in the ongoing effort to remake Governors Island:
The island, and its 139 acres of parkland, will open on Memorial Day this year, as it has for the past decade. But the ambition is for it to become a year-round destination with “millions of new square feet for commerce, culture, and research,” as Mayor Bill de Blasio put it during his State of the City speech in February.
With the park complete, so too will be the work of Leslie Koch, the president and chief executive of the Trust for Governors Island, who recently announced her retirement. According to Chaban, "everywhere you look on Governors Island, you see Ms. Koch’s influence." The article includes a detailed account of Koch's achievements in addition to the concepts that drove the revitalization of Governors Island during her career.
FULL STORY: As the Revival of Governors Island Reaches a Peak, Its Architect Steps Down

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

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.

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

DOT Officially Cancels California High-Speed Rail Funding
The Trump administration has repeatedly taken aim at the LA-to-Bay Area rail project, blaming Democratic leaders for cost overruns and delays.

Legislators Push Back Against ‘Rent-Setting’ Software
In the last six months, lawmakers in more than two dozen cities and states have made strides to stop landlords from using anti-competitive rental software to determine how much to charge for rent. Shelterforce looks at the wins and losses so far.

DOT Awards 77% of BUILD Grants to Road Projects
Trump’s DOT is directing 87 percent of total grant dollars to states that backed the President in the last election.
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