Austin, Texas Chosen as Host City for the 2026 Greater & Greener Conference

Austin, Texas (September 21, 2023) – City Parks Alliance is excited to announce that Greater & Greener 2026, the premier international event exploring the transformative potential of urban parks, will be hosted in Austin, Texas. The conference will bring together more than 1,000 urban park leaders, city planners, design professionals, and advocates from around the world to […]

City Parks Alliance Welcomes New Board Members, Officers

The City Parks Alliance Board of Directors voted in five new board members, one new officer, and two new committee chairs at its spring board meeting. The new members took their seats on the board as of July 1. They bring a depth of experience in parks, urban design, and environmental conservation and represent the public, private, […]

New Narratives for a Legacy City: A St. Louis Park Study Tour Reflection

The power of parks as restorative infrastructure was fully evident during City Parks Alliance’s park study tour in St. Louis, MO, June 1 – 3. Thirty-five participants from 14 states and Canada joined us for an immersion in the history of this manufacturing-legacy city, revealed through the changing design of its built and natural environment, the […]

City Parks Alliance Members Honor Earth Day with Celebrations and Service

Urban parks can be a significant part of Earth Day celebrations, as they provide a perfect platform for cities to showcase their commitment to sustainability through a range of activities and events.  Here are some ways City Parks Alliance members provide opportunities for communities to show their dedication to nature and each other. The city […]

Community Is Alive in Austin

A mentor once described the next level of building professional relationships as when you know not only the people in the room but also the relationships that they have with one another. It is like a highly interconnected web that becomes visible when you walk in, and then you can have the most impact by […]

Exploring People, Parks, and Power in Austin with Central Texas Interfaith

This month, I had the pleasure of participating in City Park Alliance’s Park Study Tour in Austin, Texas, and an opportunity to spend time with some of the incredible folks with Central Texas Interfaith, one of our People, Parks, and Power partners. People, Parks, and Power (P3) is the first national funding initiative in the U.S. to support power building […]

Austin Partnerships Thrive

I recently had the good fortune of attending City Park Alliance’s Austin Park Study Tour and exploring Austin’s parks and recreation system. It was evident during the three-day tour that Austin Parks & Recreation has fostered a thriving ecosystem of public and private partnerships to leverage community talent and resources to meet the city’s growing demand […]

Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center Wins Toro Urban Park Innovation Award 2022

$50K grant to sustain collaborative youth-driven programs that support a circular economy City Parks Alliance and The Toro Company are pleased to announce that Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center in Philadelphia is the winner of the 2022 Toro Urban Park Innovation Award. Sponsored by The Toro Company in partnership with City Parks Alliance, the Toro Urban […]

Great American Outdoors Act: A Victory for City Parks and People

On August 4, 2020 the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. This landmark legislation guarantees that the $900 million deposited into the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) each year will be spent on conservation and park projects, and not be used for other purposes like in years past. The bill also establishes […]

City Parks Alliance Statement on Racial Equity and Justice

Today, Catherine Nagel, Executive Director of City Parks Alliance, issued the following statement: “We mourn the loss of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others and reflect on the violence, threats, and unjust treatment of people of color. We must reexamine and recommit to our values as people, and as institutions, and do better […]

Coronavirus Will Force a National Dialogue on Our Relationship with Parks and Public Spaces and their Role as Essential Civic Infrastructure

Catherine Nagel, Executive Director of City Parks Alliance, issued the following statement today in response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: “As the country responds to COVID-19, we are all adapting to changes in our lifestyles, and in our communities. To help stop the spread of the virus many of our institutions are closed, and […]