The CPR Act Could Breathe Life into Parks and Rec| NRPA Now | National Recreation and Park Association

The CPR Act Could Breathe Life into Parks and Rec

Posted on 9/24/2012 11:55:00 AM | Tags: Advocacy, urban parks, legislation, Senate

On Thursday, Sept. 20, U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) along with Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced important legislation into the Senate called the Community Parks Revitalization (CPR) Act.

Once enacted into law, CPR would provide matching, federal competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to local parks and recreation agencies for the construction of new, and to rehabilitate existing, outdoor and indoor recreational resources in metropolitan areas. It also allows for planning and programming aimed at improving the delivery of recreation services, increasing access for military families and disabled veterans, and engaging at-risk youth.

There is a waiver at the HUD Secretary’s discretion for a percentage to be awarded to areas not in metropolitan areas, so rural communities are included. The bill simply gives the Secretary authority to use discretionary dollars for these purposes, so there is no budget impact.

The CPR Act is a tool for helping to build stronger communities, create jobs, enhance a state’s economy, protect the health and well-being of the public, conserve natural resources, and contribute to a higher quality of life for hard-working Americans and their families.

The bill is a companion measure to H.R. 709, the Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act (URLC), which was introduced by Representative Albio Sires of New Jersey in 2011.

For more information about this, read the NRPA press release.

Written by Leslie Mozingo, Partner, The Ferguson Group.

Comments (1)

Matching funds for the CPR Act are especially encouraging to our efforts for a proposed facility to address health issues, programs that become prevention for at-risk youth, therapy rehabilitation, three pools; recreation, competition and therapy, a family center, and spaces for dance and overall fitness. The center is proposed for a Brownfield site that has recently gone through a remediation. The proposed site is only blocks from our central city and adjacent to our Maple City Greenway Trail Network that provides a connection to the entire community as well as remote areas. The center will provide opportunity to maintain a healthy lifestyle and improve the overall quality of life in Goshen. The center is envisioned as an economic catalyst for our community, opportunity to build community and promote strong values. This has been a planning process for 5 years; the committee is planning for a referendum in May 2013. We are a 501c3 partnership consisting of; City of Goshen Park Department, City of Goshen Redevelopment Commission, IU Goshen Health Care, Goshen Community Schools and Greencroft Retirement Center; Goshen Community Center Inc. The partnership was formed to enable creative funding to make this dream become a reality for the betterment of our community. In our community year- round school has been proposed; the facility will aid in building partnerships for youth programming during school breaks for working parents. An estimated $80,000 has been invested in the initial forming of the process through City, School and private donations. We looking forward to additional information concern the CPR Act, in particular how the CPR Act might benefit our proposed facility project. Thank you for all your efforts that value quality of life issues, Parks and Recreation. by Sheri Howland on 09/27/2012

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