The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "parks and recreation" ...
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Cuts Put Strain on Park Police
The number of full-time police officers at New York State Parks has decreased the past five years, along with increases in more "serious" offenses. Several areas have minimal or no police coverage, and some officers are working extended shifts as a result.
Tags: cops; beach patrol; park and recreation; overtime; Long Island; Bethpage; Caumsett; Hempstead; Belmont Lake;
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Our Tax Dollars at Work
A look at how the tax money in Kansas City is spent on street maintenance, police, fire/ambulance, water, sewer, parks and recreation, municipal courts, and solid waste removal.
Tags: Utilities; tax money; city spending; taxes; streets; emergency services; municipal courts; garbage pickup; solid waste removal
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Free Housing
This investigation revealed that local governments in the Kansas City area were allowing public employees -- and in some cases, their friends -- to live in government-owned housing rent-free. In one instance, this arrangement was referred to as a perk that should have been subject to taxation, but wasn't declared to the IRS.
Tags: Kansas City; housing; public employees; city government; county government; Parks and Recreation; job perks; FOIA; tax fraud
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Dog Days: The city makes millions renting out park space to businesses -- and turns its back on labor abuses
New York City makes $60 million annually from Parks Development franchises -- the pushcart vendors in parks around the city. The franchises pay the Department of Parks and Recreation for the rights to operate pushcarts, but the Department turns its back on the mistreated and underpaid vendors.
Tags: franchisees; labor agreements; parks and recreation; concessions; unions
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Colorado's water
This is a multi-piece story on water supplies problems in Colorado, where the big challenge and struggle is finding water for the future. One of the problems is the growing needs of the Denver Metropolitan area; the Denver Water Department refuses to expand its service. The story analyzes projects, some of them controversial, such as the Fryingpan-Arkansas project, the Aurora-Conjunctive-Use project and the Animas-La Plata project. The story includes numerous graphics that deal with the hydrological cycle, major Colorado river drainages and Denver's water supply system, among other topics. The shift in water consumption from agriculture to recreation, a major issue in Colorado, is also analyzed, especifically in the case of Summit County. Pueblo's successful water supply system is also reported, including graphics. The story also explains the change that some farmers have undertaken from traditional agriculture to alternative agriculture because of the lack of water resources in some parts of Colorado.
Tags: Colorado; Water; Animas-La Plata project; Denver Water Department; Baca County; Fryingpan-Arkansas Project; Aurora-Conjunctive-Use-Project; Park County; Colorado River Basin; High Line Canal; Colorado Groundwater Commission; Summit County; Pueblo Economic Development Corp.; Citizens for Colorado Water; Sierra Club; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
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Bringing parks to people
The Idaho Statesman used mapping software to find that 80 percent of Boiseans live within walking distance of a developed park. The city has increased parkland in the past 10 years by charging impact fees on new development as well as using general tax dollars to pay for parks but continuing to acquire parkland to meet future needs will likely be a difficult task.
Tags: parks; mapping; growth; parkland; population; impact fees; development; city planning; Boise Parks and Recreation Department; Idaho
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City Agency Feasting On Public Funds
Through five articles the Denver Post tracks improprieties in the Denver Parks and Recreation Department. An analysis of expenditures exposed $180,000 in food spending in 18 months, abuses of travel vouchers and vacation time, and contractual nepotism. Two top Parks Department employees were replaced as a result of the investigation.
Tags: Denver; Parks and Recreation Department; misuse of city money; nepotism; audit
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No title (id: 10559)
The St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press series finds that a lot of the summer employees in the city are often children or relatives of those working within the city government. Profiles the manager of the Parks and Recreation department, who has three children employed by the city as well as two sisters. The articles find that there is no nepotism law in the state. A lot of the minorities who apply for jobs within the city often do not get them because they do not survive the selection process. The reporters did an analysis of the county employment records. Aug. 28, 1994.