To support local public projects, and to get local public jobs, start by contacting your local city hall.

Regardless of whether the economy is improving, if these proposals go through, there will be work for the landscape industry. It's not too late to throw your weight behind them.

•The national Community Parks Revitalization Act would help communities upgrade parks and outdoor recreational facilities and build new ones.
•Another federal bill, The Residential Energy and Economic Savings (TREES) Act, would promote the planting of shade trees to help lower residential energy usage.
•Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department is developing plans to accommodate the outdoor activity needs of a population anticipated to increase 80 percent by 2060.

For direct links to get more info on each of these, go to landscapearchitect.com and search for article #17967.

Public works have already been funded:

In Illinois, $15.3 million has been allocated for 45 green space projects, including:

• Picnic shelters
• Playgrounds: To get certified as a playground contractor, contact: International Playground Contractors Association, playground-contractors.org, 717-724-0594
• Trails: Want to know how to build a proper trail? American Trails, americantrails.org, 530-547-2060
• Ball fields: For more experience in sports field development, contact: Sports Turf Managers Association, stma.org, 800-323-3875
• Wetland enhancements, Prairie restoration, Bioswales

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