Skate park, an article from the Colorado Springs Business Journal, reports that the City of Colorado Springs is building a $1 million, 40,000-square-foot skate park at the northeast corner of Memorial Park.  Construction is scheduled to begin next month, and the park is expected to open this fall.  The facility planned for Memorial Park is expected to attract skate enthusiasts from around the country and to host national skating competitions.  According to city Landscape Architect Jeff Haley, once city planners realized how many people a skate park could attract and what it could mean to the community, they began to take the planning process very seriously.  Planners are hoping to attract big-name national competitions like the X Games.  Haley said, “To be quite honest, it’s a real possibility.  There’s potential for that kind of attraction.  The Springs is already a tourist attraction and Memorial Park could accommodate those kinds of crowds.”
http://www.csbj.com/story.cfm?ID=19813

How to cultivate a 'green mortgage', an article from MSNBC.com, reports that applying for a home loan also offers a chance to improve the environment.  According to Brian Berg, vice president for corporate communications at ShoreBank in Chicago, consumers can save up to 45% off their monthly utility bills with an investment of just a few thousand dollars.  Joel Freehling, Shorebank's manager said, "This is why when someone comes to us for a mortgage or home improvement loan, we talk to them about how adding a ‘green’ element to their request might make more financial sense over the long run."  The major difference between a "green" loan vs. a conventional one from a borrower’s perspective is that it requires an extra step with an energy audit.  The audit may cost a few hundred dollars and could delay processing by a few days.  However, the audit’s cost can be rolled into the loan.  Also, green homes are eligible for rebates, tax breaks and cash incentives as many states, municipalities, manufacturers, utilities and even banks chip in to make financing a greener home more attractive and affordable.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24203028/

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

Home for sale by any means
http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/24/real_estate/extreme_home_sales.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2008042504

Bush hails early delivery of stimulus checks
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24308472/

Designing for the Senior Surge
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120908542602343631.html?mod=RealEstateMain_1

The Fed's Next Move
http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/apr2008/pi20080424_783500.htm?chan=investing_investing+index+page_top+stories