mlb.mlb.com Finland
The organising committee is anxious to contact people with experiences or expertise in one or more of the sub-themes with a view to considering including them in the programme. Submissions are invited from professionals engaged in education, research, design, development, management or conservation of public open spaces. The requirements are as follows:
When the papers are chosen, each person will be required to supply the following by the 31st March 2009:
For further information or to make a submission e-mail ifpra@vyl.fi or contact:
|
Yardstick Parks Workshops – Update |
www.yardstikckglobal.com
In March Ifpra ran Yardstick Parks workshops in March 2008 in Singapore, Finland, Denmark and Norway. The intent of the workshops was to provide an opportunity for interested organisations to hear about the benefits of benchmarking parks services with other international organisations of varying sizes from small Councils (7,000 people in the community) to those in excess of 1 million people. It has been agreed that a “Nordic” group of organisations is likely be formed to participate in Yardstick. South African membership of the project for 2008 is still open although it needs to close soon to enable the project to be completed on time. Members include: Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality, Johannesburg City and Cape Town City, with yet to be confirmed Mangaung Municipality (Bloemfontein), Nelson Mandela Metro (Port Elizabeth) and eThekwini Municipality (Durban).
The Yardstick Project Manager, Chris Rutherford, remains available to provide clarification of the project methodology, results from past years and costs associated with joining the project. For further information visit www.yardstikckglobal.com or www.ifpra.org or contact the Ifpra Yardstick Project Manager Chris Rutherford at chris@prophetiam.com, Phone +64 21 351 602. If you would like Ifpra to consider hosting a Yardstick workshop in your Country please contact Chris Rutherford or Alan Smith at Ifpraworld@aol.com
New Zealand
Towards a carbon neutral public service |
www.mfe.govt.nz www.schoolgen.co.nz
Agencies in the core public services have released their carbon emissions inventories and carbon reduction plans as the first step in New Zealand's Carbon Neutral Public Service programme. The aim of the programme is for the six lead agencies (Ministry for the Environment, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Health, The Treasury, Inland Revenue, and the Ministry of Economic Development) to be carbon neutral by 2012 with the other 28 agencies being on the path to carbon neutrality by 2012. Agencies will be required to report on their emissions and reduction plans annually from now on. Reduction planning involves implementing a range of activities from installing waste recycling systems to buying energy-efficient vehicles and educating staff about sustainable practices. For example, the Department of Conservation plans to reduce its emissions from energy use by replacing diesel generators at remote sites with renewable energy, such as wind and solar power. To achieve carbon neutrality, the emissions that remain following reduction activities will be offset by investment in New Zealand-based offset projects, such as indigenous forest regeneration. The Ministry for the Environment’s Sustainable Management Fund also supports the Genesis Energy SchoolGen programme, which provides schools with the ability to generate a portion of their own electricity from the power of the sun and to learn more about renewable energy and climate change.
U.K.
Survey into sport and active recreation extended |
www.sportengland.org
Headline results of Sport England’s Active People Survey
indicate that walking continues to be the most popular
recreational activity for people in England. Due to
the overwhelming success of the 2005/6 Active People Survey,
the survey is being repeated in 2007/08 with interviewing
starting in October 2007 and continuing for a full year.
Active People has been positively received by Sport
England's key partners and many other national, regional and
local partners. It has provided Sport England with a
baseline of participation and helped establish a strong
understanding of participation in sport and active
recreation - nationally, regionally and locally. Sport
England intends to invest in the survey for a further three
years. Active People Diagnostic is a sophisticated
online reporting and analysis tool, which enables users to
access detailed survey results. A key difference
between this and the original survey is the scale.
Numerically, it will involve half the numbers, but will
provide year on year results, rather than waiting three
years as originally planned. Local authorities,
however, have been offered the opportunity to fund a larger
sample from their area and some authorities have taken up
this offer.
U.S.A.
Protest at proposed summer closure of State Parks |
www.myfoxphilly.com/
It has been suggested that in the height of the summer season, one in five New Jersey state parks could close, as part of cost-cutting measures. People using the parks would do so at their own risk. The proposal to close parks, reduce maintenance and lay off park workers has proved deeply unpopular as parks provide inexpensive recreational opportunities for people in difficult economic circumstances. It appears that the protest may push the authorities to rethink the situation and look for other ways to effect savings.
Return to contents
Hong Kong
Nominations sought for Best Landscape Award 2008 |
www.lcsd.gov.hk
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise the Best Landscape Award 2008 to commend organisations for their good efforts in greening. Free nominations are open until June 30. The award is co-organised by the Home Affairs Department, the Buildings Department, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects, the Institute of Horticulture (Hong Kong), the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, the Professional Green Building Council, and the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies. Projects nominated must be situated within Hong Kong. Any individuals, private firms, Government departments and public organisations may nominate entries for the award. The landscape greening areas of the nominated projects must be accessible by the public and residents. The award is presented in five categories. Three of them are for private developments and two for public projects.
Return to contents
U.K.
A Consultation on Government’s ambitious Play Strategy launched |
www.dcsf.gov.uk
The Fair Play consultation was announced in a written ministerial statement, by the Departments of Children, Schools and Families and Culture, Media and Sport, which also included further information on how the Government intends to take forward the Children’s Plan, Children’s Trusts, the Youth Facilities Fund and the children’s workforce action plan. Proposals in the strategy aim to create strong communities, which have a variety of places for children to play and in which they have a stake through their active involvement in design and decision making. It is proposed to make public space more child-friendly through a variety of actions including placing a stronger focus on spaces for play in the planning system; improving existing parks to make them more child orientated, training for people who design and manage public space; supporting local community ownership of space suitable for play; and supporting more positive relationships between adults and children in public space. This is an on-line consultation with twenty broad-based and open questions seeking views from parents, as well as representatives of the public, education and voluntary sectors. The consultation closes on 18th July.
Canada
Ban on cosmetic use of pesticides proposed |
www.canada.com/windsorstar/
An article in The Windsor Star announcing that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is expected to introduce legislation banning the cosmetic use of pesticides across the province has provoked strong feelings. The new legislation would apply to lawns, gardens, parks and schoolyards but would not apply to agriculture and golf courses, presumably the heaviest users. Pesticides needed to address public health issues such as the West Nile Virus would also be exempt from legislation. Golf courses would be required to develop plans to limit the environmental impact of pesticides. It was reported that during public consultations ninety-per cent of submissions favoured a ban, but the reaction from readers was mixed. How the sale of pesticides for cosmetic use may be enforced is not clear.
Return to contents
U.S.A.
National Aquatic Awards Announced |
www.nrpa.org
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and its National Aquatic Branch has recognized a number of recreation programs for excellence in planning and managing diverse aquatic services. The awards were presented at the National Aquatic Conference and Exposition and were judged on criteria such as responsiveness to community needs, quality of services, the ability to overcome challenges, accessibility of services to all, and professionalism of staff. This year’s Class I Excellence in Aquatics Award Recipient was Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation, Gwinnett County, Georgia. According to a 2002 Needs Assessment, swimming and aquatics demands ranked second to walking among Gwinnett residents, and aquatics was the favourite activity for children age 13-under. Swimming ranked just below baseball as a favourite for teens. In response, The Parks and Recreation department has opened two additional, state-of-the-art, year-round aquatics centres including both indoor and outdoor leisure pools. Another year-round aquatic centre will open in 2008 featuring two indoor pools. A third outdoor pool will have a variety of aquatic playground-type features.
Return to contents
Australia
City Set to Bloom |
www.penrithpress.com.au
La Nina is slowly sweeping the effects of her scorching brother, El Nino, from Australia's landscape, and the Penrith Council nursery is tentatively taking advantage. Council parks, construction and maintenance manager Raphael Collins said it was gradually building up its depleted stock of plants and beginning to plant more trees in its parks and gardens after a decade of drought. But the big dry has forced a change in thinking: the practice of planting swaths of thirsty colourful annuals has been restricted to a handful of locations like the council chambers and Memory Park. The new look is drought-tolerant Australian natives and established trees that don't need as much water. The bolstering of nursery plant numbers is still done cautiously in order not to accumulate stock that cannot be used. These days the council usually buys tube stock and grows plants to a plantable pot size before planting them. Contractors from groups like Muru Mittigar also collect seeds of indigenous plants and grow them. Horticulturalist Kevin Harris, who has worked at the nursery for 15 years and at the council for 22, said the current stock included a range of native grasses, about 70 olive trees, magnolias, fig trees, casuarinas, brush boxes for street trees, fatinias and gardenias. While the council tries to use as many Australian native plants as possible, introduced species like hardy azaleas are also used. The council has recently taken to using peppercorn trees as a theme. Large she-oaks have also been removed from under overhead wires and replaced with more appropriate trees. The nursery and ground crews have also adopted a more restrained approach to water use. About four times a year green waste, like tree branches cut down in council-owned spaces, is chipped and turned into mulch. By next financial year, recycled water will be used at the nursery. "It should have happened a long time ago,” said Mr. Collins, “ but the infrastructure is more expensive than people think and we have just had to just chip away at it."
Return to contents
U.K.
Canoe Trail wins Innovation category in Waterways Awards |
www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
Now in their sixth year, the Waterways Renaissance Awards, run by the Water Ways Trust and the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) aim to recognise best practice in sustainable waterway regeneration and development throughout the UK.
The winners of the ten categories were announced at an awards ceremony and dinner, which took place in Manchester in March. For the first time, a project based in Northern Ireland was the recipient of an accolade when The Lough Erne Canoe Trail won the ‘Innovation’ category. The Lough Erne trail is the first canoe trail of its kind in the UK. Designed by canoeists, the trail has succeeded through its practicality, attractiveness and accessibility to a wide range of user groups. The trail is accompanied by onshore interpretation material and a website providing maps, advice on sustainability and information ranging from local facilities to biodiversity which help to promote the area as a whole. Following the successful marketing of this project, further canoe trails in Northern Ireland are being developed under one banner: ‘Canoe Northern Ireland’. Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust, said: “The modern renaissance of our waterways continues to transform our environment, creating education and business opportunities, injecting new life into formerly neglected areas and bringing communities together. All projects making the final list are excellent examples of what can be achieved with vision, commitment and partnership working.”
Return to contents
United Arab Emirates
A greener future for Dubai residents |
www.khaleejtimes.com
Khaleej Times On Line reports that Dubai Municipality has announced several new neighbourhood and public parks in the city. According to DM officials, this is part of the civic body’s Strategic Plan for 2007-2011 which states that the per capita share of greenery in the emirate will be increased to 23.4 square metres and the total cultivated land area would be raised to 3.15 per cent of the total urban land by 2011. For 2008, the DM is undertaking a total of 109 landscape and beautification projects worth DH463 million. This will include the further development of six existing public parks, setting up twenty-one neighbourhood parks, twenty-three community facilities and four pond parks.
Return to contents
Canada
Support urged for National Wildlife Week |
www.ec.gc.ca
Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, is encouraging Canadians to take part in National Wildlife Week and to get involved in protecting wildlife. The Government is committed to protecting wildlife species and their habitats, and has taken action by protecting important species habitat through the Natural Areas Conservation Program, a $225 million initiative with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to protect a half a million acres of ecologically sensitive land across southern Canada. The Government has committed $110 million over two years for better implementation of the Species at Risk Act and is developing recovery strategies for species at risk, such as the Whooping Crane, that approached the brink of extinction in the 1940s. The Habitat Stewardship Program supports on-the-ground action by investing $18M to support over 350 local projects for the protection of species at risk and their habitat. Proclaimed through an act of Parliament in 1947, National Wildlife Week is a program of the Canadian Wildlife Federation and is sponsored in partnership with the federal government, the provincial and territorial governments, the Canadian Museum of Nature and Scouts Canada.
Return to contents
Australia
Sustainable Sydney 2030 exhibition unveiled |
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP unveiled a public exhibition at Customs House, Circular Quay providing a visual showcase of the City of Sydney's Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan. Ms Moore was flanked by Sydney's leading urban designers, planners and architects, including Danish Architect Jan Gehl, to kick off the visionary exhibition.
The exhibition features a 3D animation of the City Centre showing Sydneysiders how Sydney in 2030 could look with the Cahill Expressway removed, Western Distributor grounded, development over Central Railway Station and a new park at Darling Harbour. Step by step, the exhibition will take the visitor through the project's 12 months of planning and extensive consultation. Ten pods will be spread throughout the exhibition providing information to visitors on the strategy's 10 key directions and project ideas. The exhibition will also extend to the outdoor forecourt of Customs House with a 6-metre tall public art installation, designed by artist Alex Kosmas. The installation draws from Kosmas' previous artwork, "Silent Escape," and will feature native Australian trees imprisoned in cages.
Return to contents
World
International Awards for Liveable Communities |
www.livcomawards.com
For the latest LivCom Newsletter go to http://www.livcomawards.com/email/news-10.htm
|
2008 May 18-22
2008 May 31 2008 July 6-10 2008 Aug 13-16 2008 Sept. 13-Oct. 12 2008 Sept. 15-18 2008 Oct 6-10 2008 Oct 14-16 2008 Oct 15-17 2008 November 6-10 2008 Nov 9-12 2008 Dec 7-11 2009, June 15-17 2011 July 24-30 |
|
IFPRA, |
 |
|
