AR81 1R

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, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblyman McKeon, Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman Houghtaling and Assemblywoman Jimenez

SYNOPSIS

Urges Congress to pass “Community Parks Revitalization Act.”

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee on January 29, 2021, with amendments.

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 ¹[H.R. 343] H.R. 159¹ on ¹[January 5, 2017] January 4, 2021¹, 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 ¹[H.R. 343] H.R.159¹, 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.