Latest news with #publicspaces
BBC News
12 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Council looks to extend dog fouling order
A council is looking for people to share their views on a proposed renewal of a legal order to clamp down on dog Borough Council's Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is expiring, and the authority wants to continue to use the powers.A separate order covering Lydiard Park is also due for renewal. It has been in place since 2016, and the council said it has reduced the number of complaints about fouling, nuisance dogs and their Jim Grant, cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said dog fouling was regularly raised by residents who use local parks and open spaces. The PSPO allows anti-social behaviour wardens to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone caught failing to pick up after their Grant urged people to complete an online survey about the order."We think it is working," he said. "But by law, after every three years, we have to renew it, and we have to consult with the public to determine whether they want it renewed."It's pretty obvious that people do want it renewed, and I'm hoping that people that do respond to the consultation will not just say yes, but give further views on the subject." Councillor Grant added that even people who fail to respond to a warden can still be fined."Almost nobody goes to Lydiard Park without a car. If they ignore the officer, that officer can then note down the number plate, and we will be able to get these people," he said."The more fines we're able to issue, the more of a deterrent it is going to be."He said the council is also looking to employ more wardens to address the survey can be completed on the council's website until 20 July.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Paid parking made permanent at Spanish Banks, rate increased to $1.50 an hour
The Vancouver Park Board has voted to make paid parking permanent at Spanish Banks, while increasing the rate by 50 cents. The new rate of $1.50 per hour aligns with Vancouver's updated minimum for on-street parking, which was increased in November. According to a report presented at Monday's board meeting, the paid parking pilot project at Spanish Banks brought in $168,000 between July 2024 and May 2025, surpassing the city's revenue expectations by more than $45,000. Staff anticipate the increased rate will bring in $225,000 in net revenue annually. The decision to impose paid parking at the popular beach has been controversial, with a petition for free access gathering around 8,500 signatures, but Commissioner Tom Digby noted that maintaining the city's public spaces comes at a significant cost. 'I have to emphasize, it's so expensive to run any park,' Digby told CTV News ahead of Monday's vote. 'We have spent $1 million last year putting in a water pipeline so Spanish Banks west could have flush toilets and have showers.' The motion passed, with an amendment that would allow for 'seasonal pricing (to be) incorporated for the off-season.' Only two commissioners, Jas Virdi and Angela Haer, voted against permanent parking fees at Spanish Banks. 'I feel like we're charging for everything, and there just needs to be a balance,' Virdi said before the meeting. 'People need activities to enjoy that don't cost anything.' Commissioners supporting the motion also pointed out there are still areas with free parking across the city, including Sunset Community Centre and Trout Lake Community Centre. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Martin MacMahon
Forbes
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
How New Developments Benefit From Including Public Spaces
A public plaza in a new San Francisco, Calif. development called Chorus features seating and a ... More reflecting pool with a fog effect. It serves as a gathering spot and a place of quiwt respite within its surrounding milieu. If we're considering the big picture, what's the most valuable lifestyle amenity a new residential development can offer? It may be the inclusion of public spaces usable not only by residents, but by members of surrounding communities as well. These spaces don't just serve as intriguing design embellishments, but also as a means of forging deeper ties between the developments and their residents and the public at large. Some have remarked the trend signals developers' increasing willingness to embrace a literally more 'down-to-earth' philosophy, investing not just in rooftop fitness centers and pools, but in ground-level activations the public can also enjoy. Among the growing number of such endeavors, one of the best examples is The Village in Dallas, a development representing home to more than 11,000 residents across 16 neighborhoods. Created by Lincoln Property Co. and Phoenix Property Company, with architecture by HKS, The Village features as its anchor a lively Main Street town center dotted with a half dozen dining spots, as well as stores and a boutique hotel. Serving as a setting for public gatherings and events, a sprawling and well-manicured public lawn connects to hiking trails, pools, plazas and parks that beckon to active lifestyles. Chorus, a new high-end residential tower in San Francisco's Market Street, is another adherent to the philosophy of public space inclusion. Designed by Multistudio in collaboration with Parisa O'Connell Interior Design and Fletcher Studio Landscape Architecture, the project not only incorporates 416 residences, but a 224-seat theater, City Ballet School and public plaza. Designed by Frida Escobedo, the plaza features seating and a reflecting pool with a fog effect, and doubles as both a gathering spot and place of serene contemplation within the enclave. Another Dallas mixed-use project designed by HKS also integrates inviting public space. Park District features a Class A office tower, a separate residential tower, ground-floor retail and a plaza designed by the same landscape architecture firm, The Office of James Burnett, that sculpted proximate Klyde Warren Park. This park-like plaza directly connects to Klyde Warren Park, a 5.2-acre 'deck park' furnishing an urban green space built above the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway. The development is the connective tissue between the Arts District, downtown Dallas and Uptown. It affords the residential tower's residents, the office tower's workers and members of the public a distinctive means of enjoying the city and Klyde Warren Park. The above examples represent but three of many similar undertakings around the U.S. and world. Long Island, N.Y. is the setting for The Arboretum at Farmingdale, a new 292-residence apartment community in Brookhaven. Encompassing 75 buildings across more than 62 acres, The Arboretum at Farmingdale features a seven-acre public park. The green space is cris crossed by trails and nature paths along with areas to picnic. All can be savored both by residents of The Arboretum at Farmingdale and members of the surrounding Farmingdale and larger community. During the opening of The Grand LA Architect Frank Gehry and Mayor Eric Garcetti point into the ... More distance on July 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Designed by Frank Gehry and developed by Related Companies, The Grand by Gehry in Los Angeles incorporates public elements that include a public plaza, retail promenade and cultural space proximate to The Broad and Walt Disney Concert Hall. The upscale residences of The Grand by Gehry soar above a vibrant base accessible by the public. It includes outdoor event space, water elements and artwork. The trend isn't limited to North America. In Sydney, Australia, developer Lendlease and architect Renzo Piano teamed on a project called One Sydney Harbour that includes a trio of residential towers intermixed with a public promenade, art installations and landscaped waterfront park offering unfettered waterfront access. One Sydney Harbour has proven one of the elements in a renaissance of the city's Barangaroo area, once an abandoned industrial dock district and now a lively, eclectic mixed-use bailiwick.
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
‘Why is this allowed to happen, and why is there no enforcement?' — Singaporean dismayed by the state of Lazarus Beach after migrant workers' day-off gathering
SINGAPORE: A local man who visited Lazarus Beach over the weekend said he was 'dismayed' by the state of the area after large groups of migrant workers gathered there to unwind on their day off. Posting on the r/askSingapore subreddit on Monday (Jun 16), the man shared that he was initially happy to see many foreign domestic workers and labourers enjoying themselves by the sea. However, his sentiments changed when he saw the condition the beach was left in. According to his post, snack wrappers and beer cans were scattered across the sand, with some even floating in the water. He also noted that public sinks were being used as 'makeshift showers,' while toilet floors, which were clean earlier in the day, had become slippery and grimy. He further claimed that some individuals had trespassed onto private resort grounds. 'I saw several of the men enter the private property of the resorts, get chased off by a helpless single staff member, only to return the instant she turns her back,' he wrote. Another issue that particularly upset him was the fishing. 'I saw men fishing and catching and keeping even baby fish—something local anglers advocate against because it destroys the sustainability of the hobby,' he said. 'Why is this allowed to happen, and why is there no enforcement?' he asked. 'The sight of the once pristine and beautiful Lazarus beachfront was, for the weekend, turned into a sight of callous environmental destruction – and nothing was done to stop it.' Despite his criticism, the man clarified that he was not against migrant workers using public spaces. 'I have long advocated that they do need a day of rest, and places to be – I have zero issue with their congregation at hotspots like Paya Lebar, East Coast, Farrer Park, and whatnot. They are also people, and people need spaces and community. What I cannot accept is the STATE of how they leave these spaces and places. I think we need to take an honest look at their behaviour every Saturday/Sunday.' 'It's infuriating, to say the least, that they're not respecting the public spaces…' In the discussion thread, one user said, 'I'm with you on this. Groups of MW are always playing cricket in this open field every weekend, and they leave behind lots of trash. I have reported on One Service and note that there are several cameras in the vicinity, but I'm not sure if any actions have been taken since you'll almost always get the generic responses that they'll look into it, and then a couple of days later, the case is closed. It's infuriating, to say the least, that they're not respecting the public spaces.' Another suggested, 'Report to Nparks. Suggest they deploy officers there to curb littering.' A third stated, 'Their numbers are large (e.g., all concentrated on Sun), and there's a lack of enforcement here, so that's what we get.' However, not everyone agreed with the negative generalisations. One user stepped in to defend the migrant worker community, writing, 'I actually saw most of them cleaning up at the end of the day. Collected their litter in a large plastic tarp and placed it next to the bin.' In other news, a diner took to social media to highlight a troubling incident at ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre, where people allegedly stole cutlery and crockery from a hawker stall. In a post shared on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit on Sunday (June 15), the diner uploaded photos showing a hawker, the missing utensils, and a handwritten sign. The sign read: 'Dear customers, in the past 10 operating days, 41 forks and 10 plates have been stolen. As a small Singapore business promoting sustainability, we kindly request their return. Authorities will be involved soon. Thank you and God bless.' Read more: Hawker appeals for the return of 41 forks and 10 plates stolen at ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Video Captures Mom Being Shamed Over Toddler's Loud Voice. But the Internet Is Divided
Karley Welch, a mother of two from Greensboro, North Carolina, was filming a grocery haul at her local Aldi when the camera captured more than just her shopping bags. Now the footage is going viral — and stirring a debate over child etiquette in public spaces — after Welch shared it on TikTok. As she scanned her items, her 18-month-old son, Bellamy, sat in the cart chattering, his spirited sounds filling the store. Then, a woman's voice cut in: 'He needs a volume button.' Welch, 24, glanced at the passerby but didn't respond. Her expression, however, said it all: a mix of disbelief and confusion. 'It's not like he was throwing a tantrum or screaming,' Welch tells 'Had we been in a restaurant, you know, I definitely would have tried to get him to quiet down, or we would have left.' 'Your reminder you're entitled to a child-free life, not a child-care world,' she captioned the post. Reactions to the video were mixed. Some viewed it as a moment to underscore the importance of teaching young children to use softer voices in public, while others defended Welch, noting that the sounds of a toddler are both developmentally appropriate and often less disruptive than adults speaking loudly on speakerphone. 'Great opportunity for you to teach your child to use indoor voice, respect,' one person wrote in the comments. 'It's a grocery store not church, people look for anything to be bothered by.' 'Or we teach our kids not to yell in stores.' 'Child-free and I can't imagine my day being disrupted over something like this. Everyone has gotten too sensitive. Sometimes kids are loud and we survive.' 'America actually hates kids I swear. Trust me. She was having a bad day. It's definitely not you!' 'I'd rather this any day over an iPad kid watching YouTube at full volume.' 'Telling your kid, 'inside voices sweetie' isn't hard babe.' 'I've heard WAY louder adults on FaceTime or on phone conversations with AirPods in grocery stores so.' 'Some of y'all have never had a toddler and it shows.' While speaking with TODAY, Welch says she's helping Bellamy learn to use a calmer voice, just as she did with her son Ledger, 3. 'My 3-year-old was sitting right next to his brother, and he was quiet because he knows not to be loud, Welch explains. 'So I thought some of the comments I received about my parenting, were kind of extreme. All they saw was an 11 second clip.' Asked how she might respond now that she's had time to reflect, Welch says she'd probably just tell the woman to mind her own business and remind her, 'He's just a baby, lady.' Mariah Grumet Humbert, founder of Old Soul Etiquette, expresses empathy for Welch, and cautions against rushing to judgment based on a short video. 'He's a toddler, and teaching manners to a child of that age is a process!' Grumet Humbert says. Welch, who works part-time at a coffee shop, says she's especially tolerant of little ones at work, because, of course, she gets it. 'They're impulsive and can't self-regulate yet,' she says. Then, with a laugh, she adds, 'Sadly, neither can a lot of adults.' This article was originally published on
