Common Resources

Looking for a Sustainable Funding Model for State Parks

Many state park systems are struggling. And in some states, the legislature is making matters worse. It is time to rethink the approach to financing parks and work toward a more sustainable and efficient long-term funding system. The Kansas City Star recently reported that the Kansas state legislature is proposing to rob Peter to pay […]

Climate-Ready Coastal Development? A Model from Pelican Bay, Florida

Americans love the coast. We live there. We vacation there. Coastal areas generate substantial economic activity. But building on the coast is risky—storms and sea level rise threaten coastal development. Is there a model of development that allows us to enjoy all the ocean has to offer and yet reduces the risks from these hazards? […]

Going Out…Was Really Going In.

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out ‘til sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” -John Muir It sounds a bit touchy-feely, but there is increasing evidence that time spent walking beneath trees, strolling beside a river, or lying in a park pays significant health and […]

Tough Times for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

On July 6, President Obama signed the two-year, $127 billion surface transportation bill. Mostly unreported in the media coverage of the event was the sharp cut in funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) that was also part of the legislation. The original Senate bill (S. 1813) had proposed $700 million in funding […]