Parks funding has always been a challenge for cities—but in light of recent shifts, finding money for capital costs, programming, and operations has become even more difficult. Federal support has decreased, and parks are often left off the list of civic priorities, forcing cities and communities to explore new, creative ways to fund public parks, one of our most critical pieces of infrastructure.
This session will explore four innovative approaches that cities are using to pivot quickly away from traditional funding sources like state and federal grants—and toward bold, creative partnerships. Participants will learn about Asheville, NC stretching limited federal dollars, Santa, Monica, CA created park tax districts, Denver, CO is developing future bond measures, and Madison, WI is strategically building public/private partnerships and a targeted capital campaign to bridge gaps.