Shifting federal funding, macroeconomic uncertainty, and limited philanthropic resources mean traditional funding models are no longer enough. Modern parks require a blended approach that weaves together financial resources from diverse buckets across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors, strategically deploying each to multiply the impact of every dollar invested. Moving Beyond a Single Funding Source […]
As cities invest heavily in public spaces, park leaders face the challenge of ensuring these improvements directly benefit existing residents without driving displacement. At Greater & Greener 2026, leaders from across the country gathered to share real-world strategies for healing historical urban divides, transforming neglected assets, and creating shared prosperity through public spaces. Confronting Historical […]
When Nature Rewrites the Agenda Back home now in the nation’s capital city, one overarching takeaway from Greater & Greener 2026 keeps clinging to me like Washington, D.C.’s hot, humid summer air: urban parks can no longer be viewed as mere green leisure spaces. Today, they are serving as our cities’ most vital physical and […]
Washington, D.C. (July 1, 2026) – At City Parks Alliance’s June Board of Directors meeting, the board elected two new members. The board also elected a new Treasurer and board committee leaders, while recognizing several board members for completing their board service. Two New Members Elected to Board of Directors Erin Lonoff (Minneapolis, MN) is […]
Zilker Metro Park Awarded $50K to Develop Sustainable Maintenance Facility AUSTIN, TX – June 15, 2026 – Today, Zilker Metropolitan Park, “the crown jewel of the Austin Parks system,” received The Toro Company Urban Park Innovation Award of $50,000 in support of the development of a new, sustainable maintenance facility for the park’s facilities and […]
Over the past 20 years, as I have led City Parks Alliance, I have been struck by a simple truth: parks hold a city’s DNA. They are markers of a city’s history, politics, culture, and values. You can visit a city’s park system and learn to read these indicators by the condition and accessibility of […]
Dear City Parks Alliance Members: For the past twenty years, I have had the incredible honor of leading the City Parks Alliance. Together, we have built a movement that recognizes urban parks not just as amenities, but as essential infrastructure for healthy, resilient, and equitable cities. Today, I am sharing the news that I have […]
No Single Leader Can Make Thriving Parks Happen Alone No single leader—or agency—can meet the full potential of parks today. Once green islands whose boundaries were managed independently, parks today touch other urban infrastructure and need to be managed accordingly. In 2026, a park isn’t just a place to sit; it’s a cooling center, a […]
Request for Proposals for Event Planning, Administration, Coordination & Consultation Services for Greater & Greener 2028 Atlanta, GA • June 3-6, 2028 City Parks Alliance seeks a full-service, professional event-planning firm to provide consultation and administrative services to implement an operational plan and coordinate all the components necessary to produce our biennial Greater & Greener […]
City park leadership today requires a rare skillset: the ability to manage people, steward nature, and respond to unpredictable, rapidly changing circumstances. To help communities thrive in turbulent times, park leaders have moved far beyond traditional roles. The most successful are finding innovative ways to deploy park and recreation resources that deliver significant city-wide results. […]
Kenneth Allen, director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, remembers riding his bike to MacGregor Park near his childhood home in Houston, full of anticipation. As a kid, he loved swimming in the pool and playing on the ball fields. Decades later, Allen is partnering on a major overhaul of the park that has […]
At City Parks Alliance, we believe excellent urban park systems are critical infrastructure for equitable, resilient, and thriving cities. We focus on the design, funding, building, programming, operations, and stewardship of parks and how they support related urban systems and public policy goals. Parks today are not just a collection of disparate assets in a […]