During the 2011 82(R) legislative session, Texas Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) & Linda Harper-Brown (R-Irving) filed a bill (SB 513) to adopt a statewide Complete Streets policy. A companion bill (HB 1105), filed in the House, also provided a Complete Streets policy. Although, these bills were not approved by the House or Senate, advocacy groups such as BikeTexas, continue to strive for the passage of a statewide Complete Streets policy during the 2013 legislative session. Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has adopted guidelines, in response to a 2010 USDOT federal policy, which encourages the development of streets designed for bicycle and pedestrian transportation. Complete Street Bills 2011 Complete Streets Policy for Texas SB 513 Complete Streets Bill ...
A Federal bill (H.R.4348), entitled the "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act" (MAP-21), signed by president Obama in July of 2012, has changed the way funds for bike and pedestrian walkways are distributed by states across the nation. The law combines funds from the Transportation Enhancements program and the Safe Routes to School program into one new fund called Transportation Alternatives (TA). While some may worry that this policy will have a negative impact on the creation of walkways and bike lanes, others are finding new ways to maximize opportunities for alternative forms of transportation. New Funding Mechanism for Safe Routes to School This blog post from DC.Streetsblog.org explains some of the changes in funding brought on by MAP-21 and how states have ...
According to the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF), in September 2012, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed The California State Park Stewardship Act (AB 1589) and AB 1478, which require the state's Parks and Recreation Department to develop a plan to increase state park revenues by July 1, 2013. These bills will allocate $20 million in previously-undisclosed park funds, establish moratorium on closures, and offer new opportunities for revenue. Read the CSPF press release CSPF Applauds Governor Brown for Signing AB 1478 & AB 1589 to learn more about how these laws will help in managing California's parks system. In 2010, Californians voted against Proposition 21, which would have charged an $18 vehicle fee, to help fund and maintain parks. Between 2010-2012, 70 parks in ...
Latinos from low-income neighborhoods of Southern California are less likely to have access to green space, parks, and other recreational facilities. Robert Garcia of The City Project wants to change this by seeking green justice, through equal access of green space for all. Although, Los Angeles is one of the most heavily populated cities in the country, it continues to have a limited amount of parks, especially in underserved communities. Residents of Maywood, a predominantly low-income, Latino neighborhood, suffer disproportionately from high rates of obesity and have only 0.6 acres of park space per 1,000 residents. According to Robert Garcia, of The City Project in California, parks in California are a civil rights issue, because not everyone has equal access to them. This ...
Despite the voters' rejection of Proposition 21----a tax that would have provided a source of funding for Califonia parks---The City Project, a non-profit organization based out of California, continues to work on plans towards equal access to parks and recreation, for underserved communities in California. Members of the City Project believe that parks would create thousands of job opportunities, and reduce the health burdens of those that lack easy access to parks. According to this blog post, The City Project is working on an equity plan to distribute park benefits. Proposition 21 (2010) would have provided $500 million per year for California’s 278 state parks through an $18 fee on vehicles. On November 2, 2010, voters voted against this measure, and as a result dozens of ...
According to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) there is a need to update existing policies in order to provide funds for the development and upkeep of parks and recreation facilities throughout the nation. The NRPA believes that a piece of legislation called the Community Parks Revitalization (CPR) Act (2013) could help by allowing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide funds to local communities for: developing new parks and improving infrastructure;
providing matching grants for innovative programming that would target at-risk youth, returning veterans, and military families; and
creating a federal program that would provide loans for larger scale parks and recreation projects. The Community Parks Revitalization Act (CPR) was introduced ...
Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago has launched the Chicago Plays initiative to improve the condition of 300 parks and playgrounds throughout the city. Parks with trails, playgrounds, and athletic facilities can increase the amount of physical activity that people participate in. A recent study found that 81 percent of Hispanic neighborhoods lacked recreational facilities. Through the Chicago Plays initiative, Mayor Emanuel hopes to provide at least one park within a 10-minute walking distance of every Chicagoan. Chicago Plays is a five year playground renovation project that aims to improve the quality of 300 parks and playgrounds throughout Chicago. According to a press release from the office of the mayor, Mayor Emanuel hopes to complete the first upgrades to 50 playgrounds by November ...
In 2010, a group of Latina immigrants living in Granada, a neighborhood of Phoenix, formed Vecinos Unidos Siempre (Neighbors United Forever)---in order to unite residents and bring about improvements to their neighborhood. As a result of forming this group and partnering with Maryvale on the Move (a Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities initiative) residents were able to bring about improvements to the only park in their neighborhood. More Information and Resources Neighbors United Forever for Change (Vecinos Unidos Siempre para el cambio) Phoenix, AZ At the end of 2011, the Phoenix city council released a $1.2 million bond to be used for improvements to Cielito Lindo Park--located in the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood of Granada. A steering committee comprised of local residents was ...
After years of working with city departments and groups around the community, organizers from Living Streets L.A. finally celebrated victory, with plans for four parklets across the city underway. The establishment of these parklets will serve as a pilot program for a city-wide plan to support parklets and complete streets throughout the city. Council members Jose Huizar and Jan Perry both supported the motion for the parklet pilot program in 2011. Still, the effort to bring parklets to LA started at the community level, when Living Streets L.A. and the Downtown Neighborhood Council encouraged Huizar's team to adopt a parklet program for downtown L.A. The first park to be opened was Highland Park Parklet, the second was the Spring Street Parklet, and the third will be at El ...
