All articles tagged with #parks
The City of Boise has decided to shut down pickleball courts at Willow Lane and Manitou parks following a lawsuit from neighbors citing noise and offensive language, opting to convert these courts back to tennis courts to focus on community safety and quality of life.
Disney reported a strong quarter with a 6% increase in streaming revenue and a profit of $346 million, driven by higher sales at domestic parks and growth in Disney+ and Hulu subscribers, totaling 183 million. The company exceeded Wall Street expectations, with revenue reaching $23.7 billion and an adjusted EPS of $1.61. Despite challenges in linear TV, Disney is optimistic about future growth, including new streaming services and international expansion.
The likelihood of a government shutdown is increasing as Republicans struggle to reach a consensus on a defense-spending bill and funding the government. If a shutdown occurs on September 30, Americans may face a range of consequences, including delayed paychecks, limited access to parks, furloughs in Social Security, and flight delays. The impact could also extend to programs such as environmental inspections, workplace safety inspections, and loan processing. The longer the shutdown, the more severe the effects on Americans. Republicans and Democrats are at odds over who would be to blame for a potential shutdown, while efforts to reach a resolution continue.
Disney plans to nearly double its investment in its parks and cruises business, with a planned investment of approximately $60 billion over the next 10 years. While the company faces challenges in its streaming business and traditional TV networks, its theme parks, experiences, and products division has been a bright spot, particularly with its international parks. The company will provide more details about the investment at its investor day.
Dallas City Council members expressed skepticism towards a $400 million park improvement plan, questioning the allocation of funds for parks in a planned 2024 bond referendum when there are other pressing needs in the city. Concerns were raised about the deteriorating condition of existing parks, such as the Grauwyler Park pool, which is in need of major repairs. The Park Department defended the plan, highlighting the importance of investing in parks for community development and addressing issues like sediment accumulation in White Rock Lake. Council members also raised questions about unspent funds from previous bond referendums and the allocation of funds for the Dallas Zoo. The final decisions on the bond package will be made by City Council members in January 2024.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Colorado has announced the arrest of Glenn Thompson Braden, a 20-year-old man accused of targeting lone women in parks. Braden was apprehended after exposing himself to two women hiking alone at Stapleton Park. The sheriff's office believes Braden is responsible for other reported sexual encounters in the area. He has been booked on charges of unlawful sexual contact and indecent exposure. Solo hikers are encouraged to take precautions such as carrying bear or pepper spray and staying aware of their surroundings.
Take a floral-focused walking tour through the gardens, green spaces, and flower shops of Paris's 6th and 7th arrondissements. The tour includes stops at Champ de Mars, Esplanade des Invalides, Adriane M. Fleuriste, 69 bac, La Maison du Bac, Oz Garden, and Astier de Villatte. The tour ends with a stroll through Jardin de Luxembourg, a classic Parisian park. The tour is just short of three miles and takes from two to almost five hours with stops to shop and eat.
Some areas of New York City's beaches and parks will be closed this summer due to construction, including sporadic closures of Rockaway beaches. The city's 48 outdoor pools will open on June 29, but staffing shortages may affect access to swimming. Several city-owned pools, both indoor and outdoor, will also be closed for renovations. The arch and fountain at Grand Army Plaza will be closed for the season due to restoration work. The parks department publishes updates online about construction-related closures to open spaces.
The Trust for Public Land has released its annual rankings for the best big city park systems, with three cities in the Las Vegas Valley making the top 50. Henderson ranked #19, North Las Vegas climbed 17 spots to #37, and Las Vegas ranked #48. Rankings are based on park access, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities. Henderson received strong marks for park access, while Las Vegas scored best on park amenities. The top two cities were Washington, DC and St. Paul.
The Twin Cities' park systems have been ranked second and third in the nation, according to the Trust for Public Land's annual ParkScore rankings. While both cities scored high on access, investment, and amenities, equity remains an issue, with neighborhoods predominantly identifying as people of color having less park space than majority white neighborhoods. Parks representatives from both cities celebrated the rankings while acknowledging the work to be done to achieve equitable access to parkland and amenities within the cities.
Dallas has jumped 10 spots in the ParkScore ranking, a respected national index of local park systems in the 100 largest U.S. cities, from 53 to 43. The ranking is based on five components: access, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities. Dallas outperformed most of the biggest Texas cities, with Plano ranking the highest among Texas cities at 16. The improvement is attributed to new investments and amenities, including dog parks, new basketball hoops, playgrounds, and benches, welcoming water fountains and signage at trailheads, and splash pads in underserved neighborhoods. The city spends $124 per person on its park system, compared to last year’s $109, according to the index.
US News & World Report has released a ranking of the 15 most affordable places to live in the US, where residents spend less than 25% of their incomes on housing. Most of these cities are in the South and Midwest and offer great schools, parks, and hiking trails. None of the big cities made the cut, and small-town flair is a common feature. The ranking also considered the cost of goods and services across the cities.
Disney's Parks, Experiences and Products unit chairman, Josh D'Amaro, stated that the feud between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has not affected the division's business results. The company still plans to spend $17 billion in Florida over the next decade, despite abandoning plans to move 2,000 staffers to Florida and build a new campus 20 miles from Disney World. D'Amaro also mentioned that the recent decision to close Florida's Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser hotel in September will result in an acceleration in depreciation of $100 million to $150 million over the next two quarters.
Disney reported Q2 earnings that missed expectations due to ongoing mass layoffs and cost-cutting efforts, but its theme parks continued to perform well with operating income hitting $2.17 billion. While Disney+ subscribers missed expectations, streaming losses narrowed to $659 million from $887 million in the year-ago period. CEO Bob Iger remains focused on profitability as investors shift focus away from subscriber growth. The future of Hulu also hangs in the balance as Iger said "everything was on the table" regarding the company's stake in the streamer.
City Parks Foundation has announced its lineup of concerts for this year’s SummerStage series, featuring over 80 free and benefit concerts and events in Central Park and neighborhood parks throughout New York City. The series includes multiple events marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, as well as regular summertime offerings like the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival and Metropolitan Opera Summer Recitals. The concerts will take place at various locations, including Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jackie Robinson Park, Coney Island, Herbert Von King Park, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park.