Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman WILLIAM W. SPEARMAN
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Calabrese
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass Community Parks Revitalization Act.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging Congress to pass the federal Community Parks Revitalization Act.
Whereas, The federal Community Parks Revitalization Act, most recently introduced in the United States House of Representatives as H.R. 343 on January 5, 2017, would require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a community revitalization program consisting of federal grants to eligible local governments; and
Whereas, Any applicant for a grant under the Community Parks Revitalization Act would be required to submit to the HUD Secretary evidence of its commitment to ongoing planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance programs for its park and recreation systems; and
Whereas, The legislation includes a safeguard provision to prevent the misuse of funds by prohibiting conversion, without HUD approval, of any property improved or developed with assistance provided pursuant to the Community Parks Revitalization Act, for uses other than for public recreation; and
Whereas, The legislation provides the HUD Secretary with discretion to award such grants to certain communities which are in need but do not technically meet the criteria to be awarded a grant under the proposed program; and
Whereas, Public parks and recreation areas are vital to the development and maintenance of municipalities throughout the State, though State funding is limited with respect to creating and maintaining public recreational areas; and
Whereas, Congress is urged to enact the Community Parks Revitalization Act, or substantially similar legislation, in order to provide federal grant opportunities to New Jersey communities that are in need of new or updated public recreation areas; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly respectfully urges Congress to pass the Community Parks Revitalization Act, most recently introduced in the United States House of Representatives as H.R. 343, or substantially similar legislation, in order to provide federal grant opportunities to New Jersey communities that are in need of new or updated public recreation areas.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to all members of the New Jersey congressional delegation and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges Congress to enact the federal Community Parks Revitalization Act, most recently introduced in the United States House of Representatives as H.R. 343 on January 5, 2017 or substantially similar legislation. Public parks and recreation areas are vital to the development and maintenance of municipalities throughout the State.
The proposed federal Community Parks Revitalization Act would require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a community revitalization program consisting of federal grants to eligible local governments. Any applicant for a grant under the Community Parks Revitalization Act would have to submit to the Secretary evidence of its commitment to ongoing planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance programs for its park and recreation systems. Such grants could benefit communities throughout New Jersey.
The legislation also includes a safeguard to prevent the misuse of funds by prohibiting the conversion, without HUD approval, of any property improved or developed with assistance provided pursuant to the Community Parks Revitalization Act, for uses other than for public recreation.