Florida voters approve Amendment 3 property tax reduction
Courtesy of NPR
By Douglas Soule
FLORIDA - A state economic analysis predicted local governments could lose nearly $5 billion from Amendment 3's passage. Those losses would rise to approach $9 billion the next year, with an eventual recurring impact of nearly $12 billion.
In Miami-Dade, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's administration estimated the county could lose roughly $385 million in revenue in the first year. Levine Cava warned that services including fire rescue, libraries, roads, bridges, flood protection, parks and public transit could face cuts. Public-safety groups, including the Florida Sheriffs Association, also opposed the measure.
Read more:
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-amendment-3-property-tax-election-results-2026/
PBIC Releases New Brief on Youth Micromobility Safety
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) released Being Smart About Micromobility: What Communities Are Doing Now for Youth Safety, a new information brief examining how communities are responding to the growing use of e-bikes and e-scooters among young people. The brief explains differences among devices, summarizes youth injury trends, and discusses challenges related to regulations, infrastructure, and education. Examples from California, Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington highlight age and helmet requirements, school-based programs, designated parking, skills training, and caregiver education. The brief also identifies actions communities can take to strengthen policies, infrastructure, coordination, and safety education.
Download:
https://www.pedbikeinfo.org/downloads/PBIC_YouthMicromobility.pdf
The Olympics are the perfect excuse to build LA’s dream bike network
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Alexander Golden
CALIFORNIA - With the 2028 Summer Olympics approaching, Los Angeles has an opportunity to use the Games as a catalyst for expanding its bicycle network. An article in Planetizen points to Paris as a successful example. In preparation for the 2024 Olympics, Paris added more than 34 miles of protected bike routes, 27,000 bike parking spaces, and 46,000 rental bikes, creating connections to all 35 Olympic venues. Much of that infrastructure remains in use today, benefiting residents well beyond the Games.
Los Angeles already has plans for hundreds of miles of bike routes, but much of the network remains unfinished. Advocates are urging the city to accelerate existing projects, including regional greenways and connections between transit stations, neighborhoods, and Olympic venues. The larger lesson is that major events can provide the political momentum and deadlines needed to turn long-standing bicycle and trail plans into reality. When communities invest in permanent, connected infrastructure rather than temporary event-related transportation solutions, the benefits can last for decades.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/features/138786-olympics-are-perfect-excuse-build-las-dream-bike-network
In Utah, trails are being adjusted to allow adaptive bikes better access
Courtesy of NPR
By Macy Lipkin
UTAH - New technology, including electric motors, means disabled people can get out on mountain trails. But those trails need to be modified to make them friendly for hand-cycles or three-wheeled ebikes.
Read more:
https://www.npr.org/2026/09/23/nx-s1-5977038/in-utah-trails-are-being-adj
Science of Play
Courtesy of the Parks and Recreation Business+
By Mike Sutton
Playgrounds are increasingly being designed to do more than provide physical activity and social interaction. A partnership between Miracle Recreation and the Rube Goldberg Institute is bringing the imaginative, chain-reaction machines of cartoonist Rube Goldberg to outdoor play.
Inspired by Goldberg’s creative mechanical contraptions, the interactive playground elements encourage children to experiment, explore cause and effect, and discover how things work through movement and play. The concept demonstrates how playgrounds can incorporate STEM learning and support child development while keeping the fun and creativity of play at the center.
Read more:
https://content.prbplus.com/prb-november-2026?ref=prbplus.com#page30
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Zachary Whalen
NEBRASKA - Data centers and electrification are sapping energy from eastern Nebraska's Omaha Public Power District, resulting in a bottleneck that threatens the region’s economic growth. OPPD currently estimates it has less than 100 megawatts of available power capacity to service new or expanding companies over the next few years — manufacturing facilities can range from needing a few megawatts, to over 100.
According to OPPD president and CEO Javier Fernandez, any new project that needs two megawatts or more may have to wait to receive electricity. “Economic development leaders are concerned that if power capacity in Nebraska’s largest metropolitan area remains limited, the Omaha area and the state as a whole will be put at a competitive disadvantage for growth opportunities like new businesses, jobs, and increased tax revenue. This comes as the state is projected to face a $208 million deficit next year."
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/11/138812-eastern-nebraska-running-out-electricity
An Inclusive Camp Experience
Courtesy of the Parks and Recreation Business+
By Jill Moore
Summer camps offer children opportunities to make friends, try new activities, and create lifelong memories. But children with physical disabilities or who are neurodivergent may face barriers that make the camp experience challenging. Making camps more inclusive doesn't require a complete redesign of programs, but rather thoughtful changes to the environment and activities.
Suggestions include providing accessible docks and kayak launches, offering quieter dining areas for children with sensory sensitivities, and using visual schedules and countdowns to make transitions between activities more predictable. Inclusive play spaces, sensory kits, and staff training can also help children feel comfortable and participate alongside their peers. Preparing families and staff before camp begins is equally important.
The central message is that ADA compliance alone doesn't guarantee an inclusive experience. By offering choices, removing physical and sensory barriers, and understanding each child's needs, park and recreation agencies can create camp environments where every child has the opportunity to participate, build friendships, and feel a sense of belonging.
Read more:
https://content.prbplus.com/prb-november-2026?ref=prbplus.com#page42
New Guidebook Helps Cities Plan Parks and Affordable Housing Together
Courtesy of Recreation Management
Housing and parks have long been planned and funded separately, and sometimes treated as competing priorities. A new guidebook from Trust for Public Land and Enterprise Community Partners argues that they should be treated as connected systems, and offers city leaders a framework for delivering both.
The Parks & Affordable Housing Guidebook is designed to help city leaders, developers and funders align the delivery of affordable housing and high-quality parks. The authors say that when communities lack both, the negative effects compound. Residents are more vulnerable to financial instability and displacement, and they have less access to the health, social and climate benefits of green space.
Read more:
https://recmanagement.com/articles/156251/new-guidebook-helps-cities-plan-parks-and-affordable-housing-together
