#parks-and-recreation

#parks-and-recreation

The City of Toronto's 2026 budget offers relief many homeowners were looking for in its property tax increase, but it also lays bare the massive amount of infrastructure work hanging over the city in the coming years which, in some cases, may be deferred. With budget season now in full swing at city hall, several city departments will sit in front of the budget committee this week to give presentations on their financial needs this year. Among them will be the parks and recreation department, which is caught up in a nearly $2 billion deferral of work in the 10-year capital plan, which is the city's plan to maintain, renew and grow infrastructure. That work was supposed to be funded by development charges that builders pay to the city, but recent provincial legislation made it so developers could pay those fees once their buildings are occupied, as opposed to when they get their building permits. The change means the city will receive that revenue years later than under the previous rules, so the work it would fund has to be put off, according to city budget documents.

From day one, our administration's North Star has been public safety. We have gone to work to sweep out crime and illegal activities from our neighborhoods, and because of this work, we are currently in our eighth consecutive quarter of crime reductions. That means for almost two straight years since January 2024 crime has consistently declined each quarter in New York City. But public safety is about more than just policing. To make sure our communities feel safe and are safe, we must make smart, upstream investments that prevent crime in the first place. We must invest in our young people and provide them with safe places away from gun violence. Places to just be kids, and to play and build trust with law enforcement.

"It's been challenging in recent years for residents of the city who wanted to access baseball and soccer fields, which require a fair degree of maintenance," Becker said, recapping the origin of the working group. "The city had set up a variety of contracts with local organizations - some nonprofits, some for-profit, to maintain those fields in exchange for priority, and in some cases, exclusive access to use those fields, which made it more difficult for individuals who weren't part of those organizations to get access to those fields."

Central Park is truly an oasis amid the bustling city, offering serene moments that contrast beautifully with New York's lively chaos.

The Campbell Touch-a-Truck event on July 1 will allow children to explore various large vehicles, enhancing community engagement and education on local services.

Despite the recent rain, summer in NYC starts with improvements in safety as there were no shootings on Memorial Day weekend, showcasing effective governance.

"You were perfect. You got your line, and my character, Leslie Knope, is supposed to be overwhelmed by seeing you, and I, Amy Poehler, was also very jazzed. And I went to say my line and I drooled."

"The fund—which uses a 1 percent sales tax on large retailers to pay for clean energy projects and climate-oriented programs—has raked in much more money than initially expected."

The city plans to close more than two dozen public restrooms in parks and on beaches to save funds amid a $258 million budget deficit.