TITLE 16 - US CODE - CHAPTER 45 - URBAN PARK AND RECREATION RECOVERY PROGRAM
16 USC 2501 - Congressional findings
The Congress finds that
(a) the quality of life in urban areas is closely related to the availability of fully functional park and recreation systems including land, facilities, and service programs;
(b) residents of cities need close-to-home recreational opportunities that are adequate to specialized urban demands, with parks and facilities properly located, developed, and well maintained;
(c) the greatest recreational deficiencies with respect to land, facilities, and programs are found in many large cities, especially at the neighborhood level;
(d) inadequate financing of urban recreation programs due to fiscal difficulties in many large cities has led to the deterioration of facilities, nonavailability of recreation services, and an inability to adapt recreational programs to changing circumstances; and
Advertisement
(e) there is no existing Federal assistance program which fully addresses the needs for physical rehabilitation and revitalization of these park and recreation systems.
16 USC 2502 - Congressional statement of purpose; complementary program authorization; terms and conditions
The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the Secretary to establish an urban park and recreation recovery program which would provide Federal grants to economically hard-pressed communities specifically for the rehabilitation of critically needed recreation areas, facilities, and development of improved recreation programs. This program is intended to complement existing Federal programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Community Development Grant Programs by encouraging and stimulating local governments to revitalize their park and recreation systems and to make long-term commitments to continuing maintenance of these systems. Such assistance shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate and in the public interest to carry out the purposes of this chapter. It is further the purpose of this chapter to improve recreation facilities and expand recreation services in urban areas with a high incidence of crime and to help deter crime through the expansion of recreation opportunities for at-risk youth. It is the further purpose of this section[1] to increase the security of urban parks and to promote collaboration between local agencies involved in parks and recreation, law enforcement, youth social services, and juvenile justice system.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “chapter”.
16 USC 2503 - Definitions
When used in this chapter the term
(a) recreational areas and facilities means indoor or outdoor parks, buildings, sites, or other facilities which are dedicated to recreation purposes and administered by public or private nonprofit agencies to serve the recreation needs of community residents. Emphasis shall be on public facilities readily accessible to residential neighborhoods, including multiple-use community centers which have recreation as one of their primary purposes, but excluding major sports arenas, exhibition areas, and conference halls used primarily for commercial sports, spectator, or display activities;
(b) rehabilitation grants means matching capital grants to local governments for the purpose of rebuilding, remodeling, expanding, or developing existing outdoor or indoor recreation areas and facilities, including improvements in park landscapes, buildings, and support facilities, but excluding routine maintenance and upkeep activities;
(c) innovation grants means matching grants to local governments to cover costs of personnel, facilities, equipment, supplies, or services designed to demonstrate innovative and cost-effective ways to augment park and recreation opportunities at the neighborhood level and to address common problems related to facility operations and improved delivery of recreation service, and which shall exclude routine operation and maintenance activities;
(d) at-risk youth recreation grants means
(1) rehabilitation grants,
(2) innovation grants, or
(3) matching grants for continuing program support for programs of demonstrated value or success in providing constructive alternatives to youth at risk for engaging in criminal behavior, including grants for operating, or coordinating recreation programs and services;
in neighborhoods and communities with a high prevalence of crime, particularly violent crime or crime committed by youthful offenders; in addition to the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this section, rehabilitation grants referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection may be used for the provision of lighting, emergency phones or other capital improvements which will improve the security of urban parks;
(e) recovery action program grants means matching grants to local governments for development of local park and recreation recovery action programs to meet the requirements of this chapter. Such grants will be for resource and needs assessment, coordination, citizen involvement and planning, and program development activities to encourage public definition of goals, and develop priorities and strategies for overall recreation system recovery;
(f) maintenance means all commonly accepted practices necessary to keep recreation areas and facilities operating in a state of good repair and to protect them from deterioration resulting from normal wear and tear;
(g) general purpose local government means any city, county, town, township, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State, including the District of Columbia, and insular areas;
(h) special purpose local government means any local or regional special district, public-purpose corporation or other limited political subdivision of a State, including but not limited to park authorities; park, conservation, water or sanitary districts; and school districts;
(i) private, nonprofit agency means a community-based, non-profit organization, corporation, or association organized for purposes of providing recreational, conservation, and educational services directly to urban residents on either a neighborhood or communitywide basis through voluntary donations, voluntary labor, or public or private grants;
(j) State means any State of the United States or any instrumentality of a State approved by the Governor; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and insular areas; and
(k) insular areas means Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
16 USC 2504 - Federal assistance grants
(a) General purpose local governments eligible for assistance; basis; publication in Federal Register: list of eligibles, criteria of eligibility
Eligibility of general purpose local governments for assistance under this chapter shall be based upon need as determined by the Secretary. Within one hundred and twenty days after November 10, 1978, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, a list of the local governments eligible to participate in this program, to be accompanied by a discussion of criteria used in determining eligibility. Such criteria shall be based upon factors which the Secretary determines are related to deteriorated recreational facilities or systems, and physical and economic distress.
Eligibility of general purpose local governments for assistance under this chapter shall be based upon need as determined by the Secretary. Within one hundred and twenty days after November 10, 1978, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, a list of the local governments eligible to participate in this program, to be accompanied by a discussion of criteria used in determining eligibility. Such criteria shall be based upon factors which the Secretary determines are related to deteriorated recreational facilities or systems, and physical and economic distress.
(b) Other general purpose local governments eligible for assistance; limitation of funds
Notwithstanding the list of eligible local governments established in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary is also authorized to establish eligibility, at his discretion and in accord with the findings and purpose of this chapter, to other general purpose local governments in standard metropolitan statistical areas as defined by the census: Provided, That grants to these discretionary applicants do not exceed in the aggregate 15 per centum of funds appropriated under this chapter for rehabilitation, innovation, and recovery action program grants.
Notwithstanding the list of eligible local governments established in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary is also authorized to establish eligibility, at his discretion and in accord with the findings and purpose of this chapter, to other general purpose local governments in standard metropolitan statistical areas as defined by the census: Provided, That grants to these discretionary applicants do not exceed in the aggregate 15 per centum of funds appropriated under this chapter for rehabilitation, innovation, and recovery action program grants.
(c) Priority criteria for project selection and approval
The Secretary shall also establish priority criteria for project selection and approval which consider such factors as
The Secretary shall also establish priority criteria for project selection and approval which consider such factors as
(1) population;
(2) condition of existing recreation areas and facilities;
(3) demonstrated deficiencies in access to neighborhood recreation opportunities, particularly for minority, and low- and moderate-income residents;
(4) public participation in determining rehabilitation or development needs;
(5) the extent to which a project supports or complements target activities undertaken as part of a local governments overall community development and urban revitalization program;
(6) the extent to which a proposed project would provide employment opportunities for minorities, youth, and low- and moderate-income residents in the project neighborhood and/or would provide for participation of neighborhood, nonprofit or tenant organizations in the proposed rehabilitation activity or in subsequent maintenance, staffing, or supervision of recreation areas and facilities;
(7) the amount of State and private support for a project as evidenced by commitments of non-Federal resources to project construction or operation; and
(8) in the case of at-risk youth recreation grants, the Secretary shall give a priority to each of the following criteria:
(A) Programs which are targeted to youth who are at the greatest risk of becoming involved in violence and crime.
(B) Programs which teach important values and life skills, including teamwork, respect, leadership, and self-esteem.
(C) Programs which offer tutoring, remedial education, mentoring, and counseling in addition to recreation opportunities.
(D) Programs which offer services during late night or other nonschool hours.
(E) Programs which demonstrate collaboration between local park and recreation, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and youth social service agencies and nongovernmental entities, including the private sector and community and nonprofit organizations.
(F) Programs which leverage public or private recreation investments in the form of services, materials, or cash.
(G) Programs which show the greatest potential of being continued with non-Federal funds or which can serve as models for other communities.
16 USC 2505 - Rehabilitation and innovation grants
(a) Authorization; transfer; payments; modification
The Secretary is authorized to provide 70 per centum matching rehabilitation and innovative grants directly to eligible general purpose local governments upon his approval of applications therefor by the chief executives of such governments.
The Secretary is authorized to provide 70 per centum matching rehabilitation and innovative grants directly to eligible general purpose local governments upon his approval of applications therefor by the chief executives of such governments.
(1) At the discretion of such applicants, and if consistent with an approved application, rehabilitation and innovation grants may be transferred in whole or in part to independent special purpose local governments, private nonprofit agencies or county or regional park authorities: Provided, That assisted recreation areas and facilities owned or managed by them offer recreation opportunities to the general population within the jurisdictional boundaries of an eligible applicant.
(2) Payments may be made only for those rehabilitation or innovative projects which have been approved by the Secretary. Such payments may be made from time to time in keeping with the rate of progress toward the satisfactory completion of a project, except that the Secretary may, when appropriate, make advance payments on approved rehabilitation and innovative projects in an amount not to exceed 20 per centum of the total project cost.
(3) The Secretary may authorize modification of an approved project only when a grantee has adequately demonstrated that such modification is necessary because of circumstances not foreseeable at the time a project was proposed.
16 USC 2506 - Local commitments to system recovery and maintenance
(a) Recovery action programs; preliminary action programs; five-year recovery action programs; continuing planning process
As a requirement for project approval, local governments applying for assistance under this chapter shall submit to the Secretary evidence of their commitments to ongoing planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance programs for their park and recreation systems. These commitments will be expressed in local park and recreation recovery action programs which maximize coordination of all community resources, including other federally supported urban development and recreation programs. During an initial interim period to be established by regulations under this chapter, this requirement may be satisfied by local government submissions of preliminary action programs which briefly define objectives, priorities, and implementation strategies for overall system recovery and maintenance and commit the applicant to a scheduled program development process. Following this interim period, all local applicants shall submit to the Secretary, as a condition of eligibility, a five-year action program for park and recreation recovery that satisfactorily demonstrate:[1]
As a requirement for project approval, local governments applying for assistance under this chapter shall submit to the Secretary evidence of their commitments to ongoing planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance programs for their park and recreation systems. These commitments will be expressed in local park and recreation recovery action programs which maximize coordination of all community resources, including other federally supported urban development and recreation programs. During an initial interim period to be established by regulations under this chapter, this requirement may be satisfied by local government submissions of preliminary action programs which briefly define objectives, priorities, and implementation strategies for overall system recovery and maintenance and commit the applicant to a scheduled program development process. Following this interim period, all local applicants shall submit to the Secretary, as a condition of eligibility, a five-year action program for park and recreation recovery that satisfactorily demonstrate:[1]
(1) systematic identification of recovery objectives, priorities, and implementation strategies;
(2) adequate planning for rehabilitation of specific recreation areas and facilities, including projections of the cost of proposed projects;
(3) capacity and commitment to assure that facilities provided or improved under this chapter shall thereafter continue to be adequately maintained, protected, staffed, and supervised;
(4) intention to maintain total local public outlays for park and recreation purposes at levels at least equal to those in the year preceding that in which grant assistance is sought beginning in fiscal year 1980 except in any case where a reduction in park and recreation outlays is proportionate to a reduction in overall spending by the applicant; and
(5) the relationship of the park and recreation recovery program to overall community development and urban revitalization efforts. Where appropriate, the Secretary may encourage local governments to meet action program requirements through a continuing planning process which includes periodic improvements and updates in action program submissions to eliminate identified gaps in program information and policy development.
(b) Recovery action program special considerations
Action programs shall address, but are not limited to the following considerations:
Action programs shall address, but are not limited to the following considerations:
(1) Rehabilitation of existing recreational sites and facilities, including general systemwide renovation; special rehabilitation requirements for recreational sites and facilities in areas of high population concentration and economic distress; and restoration of outstanding or unique structures, landscaping, or similar features in parks of historical or architectural significance.
(2) Local commitments to innovative and cost-effective programs and projects at the neighborhood level to augment recovery of park and recreation systems, including but not limited to recycling of abandoned schools and other public buildings for recreational purposes; multiple use of operating educational and other public buildings; purchase of recreation services on a contractual basis; use of mobile facilities and recreational, cultural, and educational programs or other innovative approaches to improving access for neighborhood residents; integration of recovery program with federally assisted projects to maximize recreational opportunities through conversion of abandoned railroad and highway rights-of-way, waterfront, and other redevelopment efforts and such other federally assisted projects as may be appropriate; conversion of recreation use of street space, derelict land, and other public lands not now designated for neighborhood recreational use; and use of various forms of compensated and uncompensated land regulation, tax inducements, or other means to encourage the private sector to provide neighborhood park and recreation facilities and programs.
The Secretary shall establish and publish in the Federal Register requirements for preparation, submission, and updating of local park and recreation recovery action programs. In order to be eligible to receive at-risk youth recreation grants a local government shall amend its 5-year action program to incorporate the goal of reducing crime and juvenile delinquency and to provide a description of the implementation strategies to achieve this goal. The plan shall also address how the local government is coordinating its recreation programs with crime prevention efforts of law enforcement, juvenile corrections, and youth social service agencies.
(c) Recovery action program grants
The Secretary is authorized to provide up to 50 per centum matching grants to eligible local applicants for program development and planning specifically to meet the objectives of this chapter.
The Secretary is authorized to provide up to 50 per centum matching grants to eligible local applicants for program development and planning specifically to meet the objectives of this chapter.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “demonstrates:”.
16 USC 2507 - State action incentive; Federal implementation grants, increase
The Secretary is authorized to increase Federal implementation grants authorized in section 2505 of this title by providing an additional match equal to the total match provided by a State of up to 15 per centum of total project costs. In no event may the Federal matching amount exceed 85 per centum of total project cost. The Secretary shall further encourage the States to assist him in assuring that local recovery plans and programs are adequately implemented by cooperating with the Department of the Interior in monitoring local park and recreation recovery plans and programs and in assuring consistency of such plans and programs, where appropriate, with State recreation policies as set forth in statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plans.
16 USC 2508 - Matching requirements; non-Federal share of project costs
The non-Federal share of project costs assisted under this chapter may be derived from general or special purpose State or local revenues.[1] State categorical grants, special appropriations by State legislatures, donations of land, buildings, or building materials and/or in-kind construction, technical, and planning services. No moneys from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (77 Stat. 49), as amended [16 U.S.C. 460l–5], or from any other Federal grant program other than general revenue sharing and the community development block grant programs shall be used to match Federal grants under this program. Reasonable local costs of action program development to meet the requirements of section 2506 (a) of this title may be used as part of the local match only when local applicants have not received program development grants under the authority of section 2506 (c) of this title. The Secretary shall encourage States and private interests to contribute, to the maximum extent possible, to the non-Federal share of project costs.
[1] So in original. The period probably should be a comma.
16 USC 2509 - Conversion of recreation property
No property improved or developed with assistance under this chapter shall, without the approval of the Secretary, be converted to other than public recreation uses. The Secretary shall approve such conversion only if he finds it to be in accord with the current local park and recreation recovery action program and only upon such conditions as he deems necessary to assure the provision of adequate recreation properties and opportunities of reasonably equivalent location and usefulness.
16 USC 2510 - Coordination of program
The Secretary shall
(a) coordinate the urban park and recreation recovery program with the total urban recovery effort and cooperate to the fullest extent possible with other Federal departments and agencies and with State agencies which administer programs and policies affecting urban areas, including but not limited to, programs in housing, urban development, natural resources management, employment, transportation, community services, and voluntary action;
(b) encourage maximum coordination of the program between appropriate State agencies and local applicants; and
(c) require that local applicants include provisions for participation of community and neighborhood residents and for public-private coordination in recovery planning and project selection.
16 USC 2511 - Recordkeeping; audit and examination; access to books and records
Each recipient of assistance under this chapter shall keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe, including records which fully disclose the amount and disposition of project undertakings in connection with which assistance under this chapter is given or used, and the amount and nature of that portion of the cost of the project or undertaking supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit. The Secretary, and the Comptroller General of the United States, or their duly authorized representatives, shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of the recipient that are pertinent to assistance received under this chapter.
16 USC 2512 - Authorization of appropriations
(a) In general
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this chapter, not to exceed $150,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1979 through 1982, and $125,000,000 in fiscal year 1983, such sums to remain available until expended. Not more than 3 per centum of the funds authorized in any fiscal year may be used for grants for the development of local park and recreation recovery action programs pursuant to sections 2506 (a) and 2506 (c) of this title, and not more than 10 per centum may be used for innovation grants pursuant to section 2505 of this title. Grants made under this chapter for projects in any one State shall not exceed in the aggregate 15 per centum of the aggregate amount of funds authorized to be appropriated in any fiscal year. For the authorizations made in this section, any amounts authorized but not appropriated in any fiscal year shall remain available for appropriation in succeeding fiscal years. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, or any other law, or regulation, there is further authorized to be appropriated $250,000 for each of the fiscal years 1979 through 1983, such sums to remain available until expended, to each of the insular areas. Such sums will not be subject to the matching provisions of this section,[1] and may only be subject to such conditions, reports, plans, and agreements, if any, as determined by the Secretary.
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this chapter, not to exceed $150,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1979 through 1982, and $125,000,000 in fiscal year 1983, such sums to remain available until expended. Not more than 3 per centum of the funds authorized in any fiscal year may be used for grants for the development of local park and recreation recovery action programs pursuant to sections 2506 (a) and 2506 (c) of this title, and not more than 10 per centum may be used for innovation grants pursuant to section 2505 of this title. Grants made under this chapter for projects in any one State shall not exceed in the aggregate 15 per centum of the aggregate amount of funds authorized to be appropriated in any fiscal year. For the authorizations made in this section, any amounts authorized but not appropriated in any fiscal year shall remain available for appropriation in succeeding fiscal years. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, or any other law, or regulation, there is further authorized to be appropriated $250,000 for each of the fiscal years 1979 through 1983, such sums to remain available until expended, to each of the insular areas. Such sums will not be subject to the matching provisions of this section,[1] and may only be subject to such conditions, reports, plans, and agreements, if any, as determined by the Secretary.
(b) Program support
Not more than 25 percent of the amounts made available under this chapter to any local government may be used for program support.
Not more than 25 percent of the amounts made available under this chapter to any local government may be used for program support.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “this chapter,”.
16 USC 2513 - Limitation of use of funds
No funds available under this chapter shall be used for the acquisition of land or interests in land.
16 USC 2514 - Sunset and reporting provisions; reports to Congress
(a) Within ninety days of the expiration of this authority, the Secretary shall report to the Congress on the overall impact of the urban park and recreation recovery program.
(b) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title VIII, 814(d)(1)(M), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4196.