Houston expects to open 34 of its 37 public pools this summer, with three sites down for repairs as the city boosts lifeguard pay and expands hiring.

After years of delays, Skyland Town Center in Southeast D.C. cut the ribbon on a nearly one‑acre community park that adds play space, seating and a multiuse plaza. City officials say public investment helped unlock the stalled redevelopment.

Officials warn Puget Sound and inland rivers remain dangerously cold as summer approaches. Life jackets, shoreline rescues and loaner stations could prevent needless deaths.

Texas Parks and Wildlife added 1,054 acres to Franklin Mountains State Park, extending protection to Martin Luther King Boulevard and securing trailhead access.

A $9M-plus renovation will rebuild Belleview Park’s barn, add restrooms and a pavilion, and relocate the petting zoo while preserving the miniature train. Opening weekend runs next Saturday through Memorial Day.

A wildlife monitor says a dead osprey chick was found tangled in fishing line at the La Jolla Tennis Club, prompting stepped-up cleanups and calls to report injured birds.

Police warned Davis residents after a mountain lion was spotted near Kestrel Place on a popular north‑city bike path. Officers and wildlife officials are monitoring the area.

A long-closed slice of downtown Miami along the Miami River is being prepped for reopening with funds earmarked to stabilize the Flagler worker’s cottage. The project includes demolition, site cleanup and a multi-year restoration plan.

A dead gray whale was found Wednesday at North Sunset Beach on Whidbey Island, marking the 19th gray whale recorded in Washington this year. NOAA and researchers are responding.

The Saint Louis Zoo launched a $170 million campaign on May 14 to fund a north‑county safari park, a new family attraction and a stronger endowment. More than $152 million has already been pledged.

Senators Ossoff and Warnock secured $2 million to build a pocket park beneath the John Lewis mural in Sweet Auburn as part of the Butler Street YMCA redevelopment.

Portland is updating its Tree Code (Title 11) to protect and expand the city's urban canopy, focusing on equity and climate resilience. The Urban Forestry Commission will brief the public on May 21 and staff expect a multi-year process.

An 11-foot alligator that wandered into a Fort Bend neighborhood was captured Wednesday and will be relocated to a natural area, officials say.