The Community Parks Revitalization Act (2013) Could Increase the Amount of Parks and Recreation Centers Nationwide

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According to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) there is a need to update existing policies in order to provide funds for the development and upkeep of parks and recreation facilities throughout the nation.

The NRPA believes that a piece of legislation called the Community Parks Revitalization (CPR) Act (2013) could help by allowing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide funds to local communities for:

• developing new parks and improving infrastructure;
• providing matching grants for innovative programming that would target at-risk youth, returning veterans, and military families; and
• creating a federal program that would provide loans for larger scale parks and recreation projects.

The Community Parks Revitalization Act (CPR) was introduced in Congress by Senators Hagan (D-NC), Kerry (D-MA), and Gillibrand (D-NY), as a companion bill to the Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act (H.R. 709). This bill would provide matching federal grants for park and recreation infrastructure located in metropolitan areas.

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Read the NRPA Factsheet to learn more about the CPR Act.

News: Community Parks Revitalization Act Reintroduced in U.S. House of Representatives (June 2013)

ASLA Supports Urban Parks Legislation and Provides Background information about the Community Parks and Revitalization Act (H.R. 2424)

The American Society of Landscapte Architects (ASLA), an active member of the Urban Parks Coalition, expressed their support for the Community Parks Revitalization Act and explained how the CPR act would provide grants that allow for the development of trails and even provide funds to increase community involvement and planning opportunities.