Highway Infrastructure Investment:

INVESTING IN NEIGHBORHOODS

The Conference Bill provided $2 billion

for local governments and states with high levels of foreclosures as a way for the local community to purchase and rehabilitate vacant housing in partnership with non-profit and private entities to enhance the funding included under this heading through capitalization of the funds. Park and recreation agencies should contact their city or county planners to identify possible uses of vacated or abandon properties, including public green space, parks, and community gathering places or other community recreation resource.

http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborhoodspg/

http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborhoodspg/nspfaq.cfm

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was created to stimulate and add balance to the economy by investing in job creation and important infrastructure improvements. The bill, which totals $787.2 billion, provides significant funding opportunities for park and recreation infrastructure and programming. On Friday, February 13, 2009, the House passed the bill by a vote of 236-183. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 60-38. This bill provides funding opportunities for park and recreation agencies through various competitive grant programs, including: special education services, childcare services, and community development block grant programs. Additionally, there will be funds available to remove and clean up commercial sites, or brownfields which could benefit park and recreation agencies.

NRPA advocates scored a major victory for communities across America in the negotiations over the economic stimulus bill. Late last week, the Senate adopted an amendment that prohibited the use of funds appropriated through the Act for “community parks”. However, due to the determination of NRPA advocates and NRPA Public Policy staff, the Conference Committee rejected the Senate language and agreed to allow communities to use funding from programs such as Community Development Block Grants, transportation infrastructure, and the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund to support community parks.

Additional hope was provide for park and recreation funding as the LWCF state assistance program was considered through final deliberations of the bill. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) offered an amendment that included $100 million for LWCF state assistance. Unfortunately, before it could be brought to the floor for a vote, a compromised bipartisan spending agreement was reached prompting Senate leadership to prohibit additional amendments that increased spending.

Future legislation may be proposed in the 111^{th Congress that seeks to stimulate the economy by creating jobs. In an effort to promote government accountability and to remove government waste, the Obama Administration will allow citizens to track where their tax dollars are spent on this Recovery Bill at}

www.recovery.gov

. The website will be available after the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Department of Agriculture

It is important to note that the bill directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize, where practical, the Public Lands Corps, Youth Conservation Corps, Student Conservation Association, Job Corps and other related partnerships with Federal, State, local, tribal or non-profit groups that serve young adults.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was created to stimulate and add balance to the economy by investing in job creation and important infrastructure improvements. The bill, which totals $787.2 billion, provides significant funding opportunities for park and recreation infrastructure and programming. On Friday, February 13, 2009, the House passed the bill by a vote of 236-183. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 60-38. This bill provides funding opportunities for park and recreation agencies through various competitive grant programs, including: special education services, childcare services, and community development block grant programs. Additionally, there will be funds available to remove and clean up commercial sites, or brownfields which could benefit park and recreation agencies.

NRPA advocates scored a major victory for communities across America in the negotiations over the economic stimulus bill. Late last week, the Senate adopted an amendment that prohibited the use of funds appropriated through the Act for “community parks”. However, due to the determination of NRPA advocates and NRPA Public Policy staff, the Conference Committee rejected the Senate language and agreed to allow communities to use funding from programs such as Community Development Block Grants, transportation infrastructure, and the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund to support community parks.

Additional hope was provide for park and recreation funding as the LWCF state assistance program was considered through final deliberations of the bill. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) offered an amendment that included $100 million for LWCF state assistance. Unfortunately, before it could be brought to the floor for a vote, a compromised bipartisan spending agreement was reached prompting Senate leadership to prohibit additional amendments that increased spending.

Future legislation may be proposed in the 111^{th Congress that seeks to stimulate the economy by creating jobs. In an effort to promote government accountability and to remove government waste, the Obama Administration will allow citizens to track where their tax dollars are spent on this Recovery Bill at}

www.recovery.gov

. The website will be available after the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Department of Agriculture

It is important to note that the bill directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize, where practical, the Public Lands Corps, Youth Conservation Corps, Student Conservation Association, Job Corps and other related partnerships with Federal, State, local, tribal or non-profit groups that serve young adults.