This rendering reveals the design for a manmade island in New York City's Hudson River by British architect Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick studio.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports Gov. Scott Walker proposes to cut $4.6 million in tax funding for the state's parks system. The state's park budget is currently $16.7 million. Walker's plan is to make up the tax funding loss by raising campsite and park entrance fees. The price of an annual state park pass would go from $3 to $28, and nightly campsite fees would increase by $2. Friends of Wisconsin State Parks backs the modest fee increase. Wisconsin has 46 state parks state parks. https://tinyurl.com/keuqqmc

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, a state board, has granted $1.7 million in grants for 14 conservation projects that will help conserve more than 5,700 state acres. That doesn't sound like much, but each grant is a matching one, which translate to a $9.6 million total. One of the grants went to Richmond for conservation of 2.82-acre Vauxhall Island, which will offer boating and fishing as part of the James River Park System. https://tinyurl.com/kbglu5f

Meanwhile in Manhattan "?(R)? the New Republic reports Pier 54, once a launch for ocean liners that became part of Hudson River Park and closed four years ago for lack of maintenance dollars, now has a billionaire benefactor. Barry Diller, chairman of IAC, is bankrolling a "miniature Central Park" on an offshore platform called Pier 55. This proposed $130-manmade island is the design of British architect Thomas Heatherwick. The park would be forested, with walking paths, and three performance spaces. Diller will not only donate over $100 million for Pier 55's construction, but fund its maintenance for 20 years"?(R)?and even handle the event bookings. https://tinyurl.com/lo55vo8