CALL TO ACTION: HB2766 calendared for Mark Up – March 18, 2026
Courtesy of the National Special Districts Association
The House of Representatives' Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform has scheduled a markup committee hearing on March 18th for the Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act (HB2766). We do not have the exact time yet; it is expected to be at 10:00 am. We will send an alert as soon as we know. We highly encourage special districts, associations and supporters to contact Congressional Offices of Members who serve on the House Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform this week to encourage support.
Read more:
https://www.nationalspecialdistricts.org/support-our-efforts-to-pass-h-r-2766-s-2014
Outdoor Recreation Contributes $1.3 Trillion to the U.S. Economy
Courtesy of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) today released new annual economic data highlighting the continued strength and significant economic impact of outdoor recreation in 2024. According to the new BEA Outdoor Recreation Economic Statistics, nominal gross output for outdoor recreation totaled $1.3 trillion in 2024, marking slower but still increasing growth and demand.
Read more:
https://recreationroundtable.org/news/outdoor-recreation-industry-remains-an-economic-powerhouse-as-dept-of-commerce-reports-record-impact-on-u-s-economy/
City of Cambridge Reports Better Bike Lanes Led to Surge In Bike Traffic
Courtesy of Streetsblog
By Christian MilNeil
MASSACHUSETTS - A City of Cambridge traffic analysis finds "that investing in high-comfort bikeways is helping more people than ever choose to bike in Cambridge" with a 250 percent increase in citywide bicycle traffic since 2004.
The city's report notes especially strong growth in the number of kids riding their bikes in the city. In the decade since 2014, the number of children recorded in the city's biennial counts has more than tripled.
Read more:
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2026/03/10/city-of-cambridge-reports-better-bike-lanes-led-to-surge-in-bike-traffic
Interior issues new regulations recognizing counties as cooperating agencies
Courtesy of NACo
By Zeke Lee
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) issued a new final rule reinstating guidance on identifying cooperating agencies under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), formally recognizing local governments – including counties – as cooperating agencies in federal environmental reviews. This gives counties a formal seat at the table during reviews of projects that affect county lands, infrastructure and communities. NACo strongly supports this rule as a key step toward meaningful county involvement in federal land management decisions.
Read more:
https://www.naco.org/news/us-department-interior-issues-new-nepa-regulations-recognizing-local-governments-cooperating
2027 Standards Tips for Success From 2025 Beta-Test Agencies
Courtesy of NRPA
By Jennifer Schleining
As CAPRA agencies prepare for their evaluations under the 2027 version of the CAPRA National Accreditation Standards, NRPA asked several 2025 beta-test agencies to provide tips for success:
- Start from scratch with writing your narratives and compiling EOC [evidence of compliance] and use your past submissions for reference.
- Give yourself plenty of time...to review, review, review and review your answers against the suggested EOC.
Read more:
https://parksandrecmag.mydigitalpublication.com/march-2026/page-10
Houston’s Historic MacGregor Park Begins a New Chapter, Thanks to the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership
Courtesy of City Parks Alliance
TEXAS - Public funding, including ORLP, has been leveraged to secure over $35 million in private funding, led by the Kinder Foundation’s $27 million catalyst gift. “It is a tremendous honor to receive ORLP funding, recognizing that these grants are very competitive,” said Justin Schultz, President and CEO of the Houston Parks Board. “MacGregor Park has been a gathering place for the community for nearly a century, where neighbors, active recreation, and civic life coexist.”
“The addition of this grant to the revitalization of MacGregor Park is a statement of the park’s historical significance and that of Houston’s Third Ward, since preserving the park’s legacy is equally as important as providing expansion opportunities for community recreation and a stronger connection to nature.”
Read more:
https://cityparksalliance.org/houstons-historic-macgregor-park-begins-a-new-chapter/
Trump has Slashed Over $750 Million From Bike and Walking Trail Projects
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Diana Ionescu
Since the early 1990s, there has been fairly consistent — and largely bipartisan — federal support for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Federal funding for such projects reached new heights during the Biden administration, as major spending measures in 2021 and 2022 included billions in new money for them. But in his efforts to eliminate what he perceives as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — and to roll back anything associated with his predecessor — President Donald Trump has targeted hundreds of millions in federal grants for biking and pedestrian projects. And further cuts could be coming.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/03/137138-trump-has-slashed-over-750-million-bike-and-walking-trail-projects
Road Salt has Increased Chloride Levels in the Potomac by 85%
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Diana Ionescu
The Potomac River, the sole source of drinking water for Washington, D.C, has seen a 10-fold increase in chloride over the past 80 years. “WSSC Water has seen chloride levels increase by 155% in the Patuxent River and 84% in the Potomac River over the past 30 years. Earlier this year, they even preemptively let their customers know to expect saltier water coming out of the tap after a storm.” Some states, like Maryland and Virginia, are working to reduce winter salt application through targeted salt management plans. Bourassa also lists several ways residents can help reduce salt use.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/03/137140-road-salt-has-increased-chloride-levels-potomac-85
Midtown Atlanta Bike Lane 16 Years in the Making Now Open
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Diana Ionescu
GEORGIA - A bike lane that has been in the works since 2010 will finally open in Midtown Atlanta, report Jonathan Raymond and Grace King for 11 Alive. “The Midtown Alliance announced on Wednesday that the Juniper Street bike lanes are officially open southbound between 14th Street and Ponce De Leon Avenue, a roughly one-mile stretch through the heart of Midtown.” According to the Alliance, all traffic, pedestrian, and bike signals on the new lanes are now operational. A safety study found that there were over 620 crashes on the street in the five years before construction on the new bike lanes began in 2023.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/03/137092-midtown-atlanta-bike-lane-16-years-making-now-open
Denver Cut Unsheltered Homelessness Almost in Half Even as Unhoused Population Grows
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Diana Ionescu
During the first part of Mayor Mike Johnson’s administration, the city mobilized funding and resources to streamline permitting and building of new temporary shelter facilities and purchased or leased hotel rooms to add to its emergency shelter stock. By the end of December [2023], the city had cleared nine major encampments and moved 1,100 people indoors into 1,100 new beds in hotels and ‘micro communities’ of tiny homes.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/03/137064-denver-cut-unsheltered-homelessness-almost-half-even-unhoused-population-grows
First Confirmed Cases of Bird Flu in California Elephant Seals Stoke Fear As Virus Surges Worldwide
Courtesy of Inside Climate News
By Kiley Price
Last week, a day that ecologists and virologists in California have feared for years finally arrived. Officials confirmed seven weaned northern elephant seal pups tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) amid a national surge of the deadly virus. When it tore through multiple colonies of the closely related southern elephant seal in South America and a sub-Antarctic island in 2023, mass die-offs followed.
Read more:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03032026/california-elephant-seals-bird-flu/
