Latest news with #publicpark
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Sacramento's Hollywood Park residents push for long-awaited park as city navigates budget deficit
SACRAMENTO — Something's been missing from Sacramento's Hollywood Park community for more than seven decades: the park. Now, many residents say it's about time the city finally builds a public park, even though Sacramento is facing a multi-million-dollar budget deficit. "I feel like we have everything that we need here except for our park," said Claire Sallee, president of the Hollywood Park Neighborhood Association. Sallee says the community is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, but unlike other established neighborhoods, no city park was ever built there. "Maybe something happened with the plans, but what I do know is that we don't have one," she said. Sacramento's current goal is to have a park within a 10-minute walk of every home. But Hollywood Park is right in the middle of a park desert. The closest playground is nearly a mile away, across busy Fruitridge Road. "It's hard for the kids. They don't get to bike anywhere," Sallee said. A vacant two-acre lot on 23rd Street has been identified as the best spot for a new park, but paying for it is a problem. "It's really challenging to figure out how do you build a new park, how do you fund it, how do you maintain it," said City Councilmember Caity Maple. Maple is now proposing to create a new community financing district, something that didn't exist back in the 1950s when Hollywood Park homes were built but is common in new neighborhoods like Natomas. "I often have community members who come to me and say, 'Why do they get really nice parks and we don't?' And the answer is because it was a master planned community and those districts' fees were built in," Maple said. The proposal would require a vote to place an annual tax on the approximately 600 Hollywood Park homes. "I think that this would be such a benefit to our neighborhood," Sallee said. There are more than 80 other parts of Sacramento that don't have a nearby park, and if this pilot project is successful, it could be used in other neighborhoods. "I would love to see this if it makes sense and it works for this community to see this throughout the rest of the city of Sacramento," Maple said. City leaders say the proposed new fee could be placed on the June 2026 ballot, and other fundraising efforts would be held to help offset the cost of purchasing the property.
Jordan Times
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Jordan Times
Mild weather to continue through Tuesday, heatwave expected by Thursday
People rest in the shade at a public park in Amman (JT file) AMMAN — A significant rise in temperatures is expected by midweek, culminating in a heatwave across most regions by Thursday, according to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD). Temperatures on Monday dropped to seasonal averages, bringing moderate conditions in most parts of the Kingdom, while relatively hot weather persisted in the Badia, Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba. Tuesday's weather is expected to remain stable, with continued mild temperatures in most areas. The Badia, Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba will continue to experience warmer-than-average conditions. High clouds will linger, and northwesterly winds are forecast to be moderate to occasionally active, according to JMD. A slight warming trend is anticipated on Wednesday, bringing relatively hot conditions to most regions. The Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba are likely to see hotter-than-usual temperatures. Winds will gradually shift from northeasterly to northwesterly. By Thursday, a more pronounced rise in temperatures will mark the beginning of a heatwave, JMD said, with relatively hot conditions are expected even in the high mountain areas, with the rest of the country experiencing full summer-like heat.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanon seeking to make improvements to Fred Burton Park
The Lebanon City Council is seeking to acquire land from the Lebanon Church of God to build a public park in Ward 2. The 13-acre tract was purchased by the City in 1963 from the Lebanon Housing Authority with the intention of building a public park. However, by 1996 no park had been built so the City donated the property to the adjacent Lebanon Church of God located at 600 C.L. Manier St.. Now, the church has agreed to return the land and the City will donate $150,000 back to the church. Officials say the land will be used to make improvements to Fred Burton Park, named after the former Ward 2 City Councilor. The park currently consists of a pavilion and play areas for basketball, baseball and softball. Current Ward 2 Councilor Geri Ashley said one of the first items on the agenda will be to install a playground. During the Tuesday evening City Council meeting, the ordinance passed the first reading unanimously.
National Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Adam Vaughan: A bold new vision for Ontario Place
My love for Lake Ontario began when I was young. Like many people, my parents were not born in Canada. We didn't have a family cottage up north to escape to every summer. Our family stayed in Toronto and the waterfront was our playground. It's why I've spent my career fighting to make the waterfront an even better place to live, work and play. I've represented this part of Toronto at city hall and in Parliament. Article content Article content Article content I see Therme — which is developing a public park and beach, along with a water park and spa at Ontario Place — as a great addition to the work I've done. This is why I've joined their team. Article content Article content Over my career, I've helped lead movements to build waterfront parks and improve transit. I served on Harbourfront Centre's board and, while in politics, helped create new cultural facilities on Queen's Quay. I also worked to deliver the budget for Waterfront Toronto, to naturalize the Don Valley and move a vision for the Port Lands forward. Article content But more importantly, I've made sure we didn't just protect affordable housing along the shore of Lake Ontario, I helped build new social housing in the area, to make sure Toronto really does have a clean, green waterfront for all. Article content Critics have thrown everything at Therme's project. It's too big, too exclusive, too foreign, too expensive, too this and too that. It's too bad. Article content You have to wonder what these protesters would have said about the original Ontario Place. Imagine the push-back to dumping contaminated landfill in the lake to make artificial islands and then surrounding them with acres of surface parking lots on the water's edge. How would they have responded to a ticketed regional tourist draw with futuristic architecture, a luxury yacht club and fast-food outlets? Article content Article content To be clear, Therme is not doing any of this. But that's how the original Ontario Place was built in the 1970s. Article content Article content Therme's new facility is different. Plans include indoor water slides and pools, as well as places to indulge yourself with a massage or a sauna. It will be a place to bring kids or hang with friends or just relax on your own and have fun. Article content I've been to Therme's locations in Germany and Romania. Therme is not elitist or an expensive experience. It's affordable, popular and entirely in keeping with what Ontario Place used to be. Article content There is, however, one key departure from the original design. The admission gates to the grounds are being removed. Accessing the waterfront and the new green space the size of Trinity Bellwoods Park will be free at Ontario Place. You won't need a ticket to have a picnic or watch the sun set over Lake Ontario ever again. Article content One thing I hope everyone can agree on is that ever since the pods closed, free access to the water's edge has proven to be a good thing. The success of Trillium Park needs to be celebrated and expanded. Therme is excited to deliver around 16 acres of publicly accessible green space along the water's edge, with more shoreline habitat and over 3,000 new trees planted next to the lake. Building more parks is good for the people of Toronto.
