|
|
|
| The Conservation Campaign News May 2013 |
|
|
|
|
Every $1 you contribute to TCC helps generate $2,000 in new public funding for land and water!
|
|
|
|
|
Major Victory for St. Louis Parks, Trails, and Arch Initiative
 The St. Louis region was the winner on April 2 with the passage of Proposition P, the Safe and Accessible Arch and Public Parks Initiative. The measure passed with 67 percent of the vote in the city of St. Louis and 53 percent in St. Louis County. The 3/16th-cent sales tax increase will dedicate nearly $31 million annually over the next two decades for expanding the region's trail system and improving local parks. It will also help pay for a major project to renew the landscape around the Gateway Arch, to make it safer and more accessible and connect it with a revived riverfront. The Conservation Campaign served as the general consultant to the campaign. Read more.
|
 Portland Metro Region Votes on Natural Areas Stewardship
After passing two bond measures over the last 15 years to acquire and protect environmentally sensitive places and create one of the nation's best park and trail networks, Portland Metro voters have an opportunity to restore and maintain those lands. The regional Metro Council manages 90 miles of stream and river corridors and 12,000 acres of natural lands and parks. Measure 26-152, a five-year, $53 million levy on the May 21 ballot, would provide the funds needed to repair damaged ecosystems and maintain natural areas. Funds would also go towards improved access and visitor experiences at key parks and natural areas, as well as programs to engage more people in nature and the outdoors. Watch the latest video from the Restore Our Natural Areas campaign, which is sponsored by The Conservation Campaign. Read more....
|
Sun Valley Trail Levy Could Set Precedent in Idaho
Idaho public officials are watching the outcome of a May 21 ballot measure to fund the reconstruction of the 22-mile Wood River Trail. The Blaine County Recreation District levy is the first conservation funding measure since 2008 in Idaho, a state that has not traditionally embraced ballot-box conservation. The 2-year BCRD levy would raise $3.5 million to repave and rebuild the trail, which was constructed on a former rail corridor and is nearing the end of its 30-year lifespan. Paralleling a major highway, the trail links Sun Valley's five major communities with a safe, recreational path for bicycling, hiking, running, rollerblading, and cross-country skiing. The Trust for Public Land provided technical assistance to the District in exploring the levy and crafting a poll to gauge voters' concerns and potential support, and then advised on the campaign. Now, all eyes are on May 21! 
|
|
Great Strides on Georgia Legacy Legislation
 The campaign to increase Georgia's investment in land conservation made significant progress in this year's legislative session. By an overwhelming majority, the state Senate passed SB 210 to establish the Georgia Legacy program, which would expand and improve Georgia's existing conservation program. The bill will be taken up by the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee next year in the second year of the two-year session. The legislation would create a framework for funding the full scope of the state's conservation needs, including clean water and wildlife, working farm and forest preservation, and local parks, as well as open space stewardship and programs to get people engaged in nature and outdoor recreation. Establishing the Georgia Legacy program lays the groundwork for a future voter-approved constitutional amendment for dedicated funding to meet the environmental and economic needs of Georgia. Read more.
|
|
|
© Copyright The Conservation Campaign 2013. All Rights Reserved.The Conservation Campaign, 10 Milk Street, Suite 810, Boston, MA 02108. 617-371-0526 TCC@conservationcampaign.org
|
|
|
|
|
