I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3734 

To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish 

and carry out an urban revitalization and livable communities program 

to provide Federal grants to urban areas for the rehabilitation of critically needed recreational areas and facilities and development of improved 

recreation programs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 6, 2009 

Mr. SIRES (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, 

Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. ROTHMAN of New 

Jersey, Mr. MCMAHON, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. 

RUSH, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, Mr. COHEN, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. LEWIS of 

Georgia, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. SERRANO, and Mr. CAPUANO) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a 

period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish and carry out an urban revitalization 

and livable communities program to provide Federal 

grants to urban areas for the rehabilitation of critically 

needed recreational areas and facilities and development 

of improved recreation programs, and for other purposes. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Urban Revitalization 

5 and Livable Communities Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) According to the 2000 United States Cen9 sus, 79 percent of the population of the United 

10 States lives in urban areas. 

11 (2) The quality of life in urban areas is closely 

12 related to the availability of fully functional park 

13 and recreation systems including land, facilities, and 

14 programs. 

15 (3) Residents of urban areas need close-to-home 

16 recreation opportunities that are adequate to special17 ized urban needs, with parks and facilities properly 

18 located, developed, and well-maintained. 

19 (4) The greatest deficiencies in recreation with 

20 respect to land, facilities, and programs are found in 

21 many urban areas, especially at the neighborhood 

22 level. 

23 (5) Inadequate Federal financing of urban 

24 recreation programs has led to the deterioration of 

25 facilities, nonavailability of recreation services, and 


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1 an inability to adapt recreation programs to chang2 ing circumstances. 

3 (6) According to the Centers for Disease con4 trol and Prevention (CDC), over the last 25 years, 

5 rates of obesity have more than tripled among ado6 lescents ages 12 to 19 and doubled among adults 

7 ages 20 to 74 and children ages 6 to 11. 

8 (7) Physical inactivity contributes to obesity. A 

9 study by the CDC found that the creation of, or en10 hanced access to, places for physical activity led to 

11 a 25.6 percent increase in the percentage of people 

12 exercising on 3 or more days a week. Physical activ13 ity can improve physical and mental health. The an14 nual costs of medical spending and lost productivity 

15 from individuals in the United States being obese 

16 and overweight are estimated to be 

17 $139,000,000,000. 

18 (8) Urban parks and recreation facilities play 

19 key roles in improving the health of the population 

20 of the United States by providing convenient access 

21 to the places, spaces, and opportunities that lead to 

22 increased physical activity. 

23 (9) According to the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, 

24 without structured, supervised activities in the after25 school hours, youth are at greater risk of being vicVerDate Nov 24 2008 05:04 Oct 07, 2009 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3734.IH H3734

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1 tims of crime or participating in anti-social behav2 iors. Juveniles are at the highest risk of being a vic3 tim of crime between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and 

4 the peak hour for juvenile crime is between 3:00 

5 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the first hour after most stu6 dents are dismissed from school. 

7 (10) The National Youth Violence Prevention 

8 Resource Center reported that students who spend 

9 no time in extracurricular activities, such as those 

10 offered in after-school programs, are 49 percent 

11 more likely to have used drugs and 37 percent more 

12 likely to become teen parents than are those stu13 dents who spend 1 to 4 hours per week in extra14 curricular activities. 

15 SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 

16 The purposes of this Act are as follows: 

17 (1) To authorize the Secretary of Housing and 

18 Urban Development to establish and carry out an 

19 urban revitalization and livable communities pro20 gram to provide Federal grants for the rehabilitation 

21 of critically needed recreational areas and facilities 

22 and development of improved recreation programs in 

23 urban areas. 

24 (2) To improve urban areas through economic 

25 development. 


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1 (3) To prevent and improve chronic disease out2 comes, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, de3 pression, and obesity. 

4 (4) To improve recreational areas and facilities 

5 and expand recreation services in urban areas with 

6 a high incidence of crime and to help expand recre7 ation opportunities for at-risk youth. 

8 (5) To promote collaboration between local 

9 agencies involved in parks and recreation, law en10 forcement, youth social services, and juvenile justice 

11 system. 

12 (6) To ensure accessibility to therapeutic recre13 ation services and to provide recreation opportunities 

14 for injured or disabled members of the Armed 

15 Forces. 

16 (7) To encourage the renovation of urban rec17 reational areas and facilities with environmentally 

18 beneficial components, when possible, such as sus19 tainable landscape features and upcycled and recy20 cled materials, and to prioritize the selection of 

21 projects that provide environmental benefits to 

22 urban areas, including by updating lighting, planting 

23 trees, increasing the urban forestry canopy, improv24 ing stormwater management, increasing green infraVerDate Nov 24 2008 05:04 Oct 07, 2009 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3734.IH H3734

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1 structure, employing water conservation measures, 

2 and adding green spaces to urban areas. 

3 SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) The term ‘‘recreational areas and facilities’’ 

6 means indoor or outdoor parks, buildings, sites, or 

7 other facilities that are dedicated to recreation pur8 poses and administered by public or private non9 profit agencies to serve the recreation needs of com10 munity residents, with emphasis on public facilities 

11 readily accessible to residential neighborhoods, in12 cluding multiple-use community centers that have 

13 recreation as a primary purpose, but excluding 

14 major sports arenas, exhibition areas, and con15 ference halls used primarily for commercial sports, 

16 spectator, or display activities. 

17 (2) The term ‘‘rehabilitation and construction 

18 grants’’ means matching capital grants to general 

19 purpose local governments for the purpose of re20 building, remodeling, expanding, or developing exist21 ing or building new recreational areas and facilities, 

22 including improvements in park landscapes, infra23 structure, buildings, and support facilities, and the 

24 provision of lighting, emergency phones, or other 

25 capital improvements to improve the security of 


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1 urban parks, but excluding routine maintenance and 

2 upkeep activities. 

3 (3) The term ‘‘innovation grants’’ means 

4 matching grants to general purpose local govern5 ments to cover costs of personnel, facilities, equip6 ment, supplies, or services designed to demonstrate 

7 innovative and cost-effective ways to augment park 

8 and recreation opportunities at the neighborhood 

9 level and to address common problems related to fa10 cility operations and improved delivery of recreation 

11 service, but excluding routine operation and mainte12 nance activities. 

13 (4) The term ‘‘at-risk youth recreation grants’’ 

14 means matching grants for new programs, or con15 tinuing program support for existing programs, that 

16 provide constructive alternatives to youth at risk for 

17 engaging in criminal behavior, including grants for 

18 operating or coordinating recreation programs and 

19 services in neighborhoods and communities with a 

20 high prevalence of crime, particularly violent crime 

21 or crime committed by youthful offenders. 

22 (5) The term ‘‘recovery action program grants’’ 

23 means matching grants to general purpose local gov24 ernments for development of local park and recre25 ation recovery action programs, including for reVerDate Nov 24 2008 05:04 Oct 07, 2009 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3734.IH H3734

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1 source and needs assessment, coordination, citizen 

2 involvement and planning, and program development 

3 activities to encourage public definition of goals and 

4 develop priorities and strategies for overall recre5 ation system recovery. 

6 (6) The term ‘‘maintenance’’ means all com7 monly accepted practices necessary to keep rec8 reational areas and facilities operating in a state of 

9 good repair and to protect such areas and facilities 

10 from deterioration resulting from normal wear and 

11 tear. 

12 (7) The term ‘‘general purpose local govern13 ment’’ means any city, county, town, township, par14 ish, village, or other general purpose political sub15 division of a State, including the District of Colum16 bia and insular areas. 

17 (8) The term ‘‘special purpose local govern18 ment’’ means any local or regional special district, 

19 public purpose corporation, or other limited political 

20 subdivision of a State, including— 

21 (A) park authorities; 

22 (B) park, conservation, water, or sanitary 

23 districts; 

24 (C) planning boards; and 

25 (D) school districts. 


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1 (9) The term ‘‘private nonprofit agency’’ means 

2 a community-based, non-profit organization, cor3 poration, or association organized for purposes of 

4 providing recreation, conservation, and educational 

5 services directly to urban residents on either a 

6 neighborhood or community-wide basis through vol7 untary donations, voluntary labor, or public or pri8 vate grants. 

9 (10) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

10 of Housing and Urban Development. 

11 (11) The term ‘‘State’’ means any State of the 

12 United States (or any instrumentality of a State ap13 proved by the Governor), the Commonwealth of 

14 Puerto Rico, and insular areas. 

15 (12) The term ‘‘insular areas’’ means Guam, 

16 the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the North17 ern Mariana Islands. 

18 SEC. 5. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS. 

19 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

20 and carry out an urban revitalization and livable commu21 nities program to, in accordance with this Act, provide 

22 Federal grants, including rehabilitation and construction 

23 grants, innovation grants, at-risk youth recreation grants, 

24 and recovery action program grants. 


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1 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—Not later than 120 days after the 

2 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall pub3 lish in the Federal Register a list of the general purpose 

4 local governments eligible to participate in the urban revi5 talization and livable communities program under this Act 

6 based on criteria described under subsection (d), to be ac7 companied by a description of criteria used in determining 

8 eligibility. 

9 (c) ELIGIBILITY UPDATE.—Not later than 8 months 

10 after the publication of the results of any United States 

11 Census conducted after the date of the enactment of this 

12 Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register 

13 an updated list of the general purpose local governments 

14 eligible to participate in the urban revitalization and liv15 able communities program under this Act based on criteria 

16 described under subsection (d). 

17 (d) CRITERIA.—Criteria used in determining eligi18 bility pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) shall be based 

19 on— 

20 (1) with respect to the jurisdiction of a general 

21 purpose local government, information from the 

22 most recent United States Census, including— 

23 (A) population density (the number of per24 sons per square mile of land area); 


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1 (B) total population under 18 years of age 

2 or over 59 years of age; 

3 (C) the number of unemployed people as a 

4 percentage of the civilian labor force; 

5 (D) the percent of households without 

6 automobiles available; 

7 (E) the percent of persons with income 

8 below 125 percent of the poverty level; 

9 (F) the change in per capita income; 

10 (G) the percent of single-headed house11 holds with children present; and 

12 (H) the percent of female-headed house13 holds with children present; and 

14 (2) any additional criteria the Secretary deter15 mines appropriate. 

16 (e) OTHER GENERAL PURPOSE LOCAL GOVERN17 MENTS ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE.— 

18 (1) OTHER GENERAL PURPOSE LOCAL GOVERN19 MENTS.—Subject to paragraph (2), and notwith20 standing the list of eligible general purpose local 

21 governments established in accordance with sub22 sections (b) and (c) of this section, the Secretary 

23 may authorize other general purpose local govern24 ments in standard metropolitan statistical areas as 

25 defined by the census as eligible to receive grants 


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1 under the urban revitalization and livable commu2 nities program under this Act, in accordance with 

3 the findings and purpose of this Act. 

4 (2) LIMITATION OF FUNDS.—Grants to general 

5 purpose local governments described in paragraph 

6 (1) shall not exceed, in the aggregate, 15 percent of 

7 the funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for re8 habilitation and construction, innovation, at-risk 

9 youth recreation, and recovery action program 

10 grants. 

11 (f) PRIORITY.— 

12 (1) CRITERIA FOR PRIORITY PROJECT SELEC13 TION AND APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall establish 

14 priority criteria for the selection and approval of 

15 projects to be funded by grants made pursuant to 

16 this Act, including considering and prioritizing cri17 teria such as— 

18 (A) a higher population density of the 

19 project neighborhood; 

20 (B) demonstrated deficiencies in the condi21 tion of existing recreational areas and facilities 

22 in the project neighborhood; 

23 (C) demonstrated deficiencies in access to 

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1 come residents and residents with physical or 

2 mental disabilities; 

3 (D) public participation in determining re4 habilitation or development needs; 

5 (E) the extent to which a project supports 

6 or complements target activities undertaken as 

7 part of a general purpose local government’s 

8 overall community development and urban revi9 talization program; 

10 (F) the extent to which such a project 

11 would— 

12 (i) provide employment opportunities 

13 for minorities, youth, and low- and mod14 erate-income residents in the project neigh15 borhood; 

16 (ii) provide for participation of neigh17 borhood, nonprofit, or tenant organizations 

18 in the proposed rehabilitation and con19 struction activity or in subsequent mainte20 nance, staffing, or supervision of rec21 reational areas and facilities; or 

22 (iii) both clause (i) and clause (ii); 

23 and 

24 (G) the amount of State, local, and private 

25 support for the project as evidenced by commitVerDate Nov 24 2008 05:04 Oct 07, 2009 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3734.IH H3734

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1 ments of non-Federal resources to project con2 struction or operation. 

3 (2) TYPES OF PROJECTS RECEIVING PRI4 ORITY.—Priority shall be given to projects that— 

5 (A) involve recreational areas and facilities 

6 without outdoor facilities within a half mile of 

7 public housing or a school; 

8 (B) create, maintain, or revitalize play9 grounds or active play areas for children; 

10 (C) connect children to the outdoors for 

11 physical activity and access to nature; 

12 (D) promote physical activity for individ13 uals and the community at large; 

14 (E) track the longitudinal rates of chronic 

15 diseases in the community such as cardio16 vascular disease, diabetes, depression, and obe17 sity; 

18 (F) use environmentally beneficial compo19 nents such as sustainable landscape features 

20 and upcycled and recycled materials; 

21 (G) provide environmental benefits to 

22 urban areas, including by— 

23 (i) updating lighting; 

24 (ii) planting trees; 


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1 (iii) increasing the urban forestry can2 opy; 

3 (iv) improving stormwater manage4 ment; 

5 (v) increasing green infrastructure; 

6 (vi) employing water conservation 

7 measures; and 

8 (vii) adding green spaces; 

9 (H) connect to public transportation; 

10 (I) use LEED Green Building Standards 

11 or contain energy efficiency components such as 

12 energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems, 

13 and other sustainable components and prac14 tices; 

15 (J) contain safe trails or routes, such as 

16 trails, bikeways, and sidewalks that connect to 

17 neighborhoods and enhance access to parks and 

18 recreational areas and facilities; 

19 (K) either employ youth or use youth vol20 unteers; 

21 (L) enhance or expand youth development 

22 in neighborhoods and communities by engaging 

23 youth in environmental stewardship, conserva24 tion, and service projects; 


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1 (M) update existing equipment or facilities 

2 to be in compliance with the most recent acces3 sibility guidelines published by the United 

4 States Access Board, specifically by removing 

5 architectural barriers so that sites comply or 

6 exceed the requirements of the final guidelines 

7 for the accessibility of recreation sites and fa8 cilities; and 

9 (N) construct new facilities or sites to com10 ply with or exceed the minimum requirements 

11 of the final guidelines for the accessibility of 

12 recreational sites and facilities published by the 

13 United States Access Board. 

14 (3) AT-RISK YOUTH RECREATION GRANTS.—In 

15 the case of at-risk youth recreation grants, the Sec16 retary shall give a priority to each of the following: 

17 (A) Programs that target youth who are at 

18 the greatest risk of becoming involved in vio19 lence and crime. 

20 (B) Programs that teach important values 

21 and life skills, including teamwork, respect, 

22 leadership, and self-esteem. 

23 (C) Programs that demonstrate past suc24 cess in providing constructive alternatives to 

25 youth at risk for engaging in criminal behavior. 


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1 (D) Programs that offer tutoring, remedial 

2 education, mentoring, and counseling in addi3 tion to recreation opportunities. 

4 (E) Programs that offer services during 

5 nonschool hours. 

6 (F) Programs that demonstrate collabora7 tion between local park and recreation, juvenile 

8 justice, law enforcement, and youth social serv9 ice agencies and nongovernmental entities, in10 cluding private nonprofit agencies. 

11 (G) Programs that leverage public or pri12 vate recreation investments in the form of serv13 ices, materials, or other funding. 

14 (H) Programs that show the greatest po15 tential of being continued with non-Federal 

16 funds or may serve as models for other commu17 nities. 

18 SEC. 6. REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION, INNOVA19 TION, AND AT-RISK YOUTH RECREATION 

20 GRANTS. 

21 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—Upon approval of an applica22 tion by the chief executive of an eligible general purpose 

23 local government, the Secretary may provide 70 percent 

24 matching rehabilitation and construction, innovation, and 


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1 at-risk youth recreation grants directly to such eligible 

2 general purpose local government. 

3 (b) TRANSFER.—At the discretion of a general pur4 pose local government receiving a rehabilitation and con5 struction, innovation, or at-risk youth recreation grant 

6 pursuant to subsection (a), and if consistent with an ap7 proved application, such a grant may be transferred in 

8 whole or in part to special purpose local governments or 

9 private nonprofit agencies, provided that assisted rec10 reational areas and facilities owned or managed by such 

11 special purpose local governments or private nonprofit 

12 agencies offer recreation opportunities to the general pop13 ulation within the jurisdictional boundaries of the general 

14 purpose local government. 

15 (c) PAYMENTS.—Grant payments may be made only 

16 for rehabilitation and construction or innovation projects 

17 or at-risk recreation youth programs approved by the Sec18 retary. In the case of rehabilitation and construction and 

19 innovation projects, such payments may be made periodi20 cally in keeping with the rate of progress toward the satis21 factory completion of a project, except that the Secretary 

22 may, when appropriate, make advance payments on ap23 proved rehabilitation and construction and innovation 

24 projects in an amount not to exceed 20 percent of the total 

25 project cost. 


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1 (d) MODIFICATION OF PROJECT.—The Secretary 

2 may authorize modification of an approved rehabilitation 

3 and construction or innovation project only when a grant4 ee has adequately demonstrated that such modification is 

5 necessary because of circumstances not foreseeable at the 

6 time such project was proposed. 

7 (e) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INNOVATION

8 GRANTS.—Innovation grants shall correspond to the 

9 goals, priorities, and implementation strategies expressed 

10 in local park and recreation recovery action programs, 

11 with particular regard to the special considerations listed 

12 in section 7(b) of this Act. 

13 SEC. 7. LOCAL COMMITMENTS TO SYSTEM RECOVERY AND 

14 MAINTENANCE. 

15 (a) RECOVERY ACTION PROGRAMS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—As a requirement for project 

17 approval, a general purpose local government apply18 ing for a grant under this Act shall submit to the 

19 Secretary evidence of its commitment to ongoing 

20 planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and 

21 maintenance programs for its park and recreation 

22 systems. Such commitment shall be expressed in a 

23 local park and recreation recovery action program 

24 that maximizes coordination of all community reVerDate Nov 24 2008 05:04 Oct 07, 2009 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3734.IH H3734

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1 sources, including other federally supported urban 

2 development and recreation programs. 

3 (2) INTERIM PRELIMINARY ACTION PRO4 GRAMS.—During an initial interim period to be es5 tablished by regulation, the recovery action program 

6 requirement under paragraph (1) may be satisfied 

7 by submission of preliminary action programs of a 

8 general purpose local government that define objec9 tives, priorities, and implementation strategies for 

10 overall system recovery and maintenance and com11 mit such general purpose local government to a 

12 scheduled program development process. 

13 (3) 5-YEAR ACTION PROGRAM.—Following the 

14 interim period under paragraph (2), all general pur15 pose local government applicants shall submit to the 

16 Secretary, as a condition of eligibility, a 5-year park 

17 and recreation recovery action program that dem18 onstrates— 

19 (A) identification of recovery objectives, 

20 priorities, and implementation strategies; 

21 (B) adequate planning for rehabilitation of 

22 specific recreational areas and facilities, includ23 ing projections of the cost of proposed projects; 

24 (C) capacity and commitment to assure 

25 that facilities provided or improved under this 


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1 Act shall thereafter continue to be adequately 

2 maintained, protected, staffed, and supervised; 

3 (D) intention to maintain total local public 

4 outlays for park and recreation purposes at lev5 els at least equal to those in the year preceding 

6 that in which grant assistance is sought, except 

7 in any case where a reduction in park and 

8 recreation outlays is proportionate to a reduc9 tion in overall spending by the applicant; and 

10 (E) the relationship of the park and recre11 ation recovery action program to overall com12 munity development and urban revitalization ef13 forts. 

14 (4) CONTINUING PLANNING PROCESS.—Where 

15 appropriate, the Secretary may encourage general 

16 purpose local governments to meet recovery action 

17 program requirements through a continuing plan18 ning process which includes periodic improvements 

19 and updates in recovery action program submissions 

20 to eliminate identified gaps in program information 

21 and policy development. 

22 (b) RECOVERY ACTION PROGRAM SPECIAL CONSID23 ERATIONS.—Recovery action programs shall address, at a 

24 minimum, the following special considerations: 


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1 (1) Rehabilitation of existing recreational areas 

2 and facilities, including— 

3 (A) general systemwide renovation; 

4 (B) special rehabilitation requirements for 

5 recreational areas and facilities in areas of high 

6 population concentration and economic distress; 

7 and 

8 (C) restoration of outstanding or unique 

9 structures, landscaping, or similar features in 

10 parks of historical or architectural significance. 

11 (2) Local commitments to innovative and cost12 effective programs and projects at the neighborhood 

13 level to augment recovery of park and recreation sys14 tems, including— 

15 (A) recycling of abandoned schools and 

16 other public buildings for recreation purposes; 

17 (B) multiple use of operating educational 

18 and other public buildings; 

19 (C) purchase of recreation services on a 

20 contractual basis; 

21 (D) use of mobile facilities and rec22 reational, cultural, and educational programs or 

23 other innovative approaches to improving access 

24 for neighborhood residents; 


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1 (E) integration of the recovery action pro2 gram with federally assisted projects to maxi3 mize recreation opportunities through conver4 sion of abandoned railroad and highway rights5 of-way, waterfront, and other redevelopment ef6 forts and such other federally assisted projects, 

7 as appropriate; 

8 (F) conversion to recreational use of street 

9 space, derelict land, and other public lands not 

10 now designated for neighborhood recreational 

11 use; and 

12 (G) use of various forms of compensated 

13 and uncompensated land regulation, tax induce14 ments, or other means to encourage the private 

15 sector to provide neighborhood park and recre16 ation facilities and programs. 

17 (c) PUBLICATION OF REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec18 retary shall establish and publish in the Federal Register 

19 requirements for preparation, submission, and updating of 

20 local park and recreation recovery action programs. 

21 (d) AT-RISK YOUTH RECREATION GRANTS.— 

22 (1) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible to re23 ceive an at-risk youth recreation grant, a general 

24 purpose local government shall include in its 5-year 

25 park and recreation recovery action program the 


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1 goal of reducing crime and juvenile delinquency and 

2 provide a description of the implementation strate3 gies to achieve this goal. 

4 (2) COORDINATION.—The description of imple5 mentation strategies under paragraph (1) shall also 

6 address how the general purpose local government is 

7 coordinating its recreation programs with crime pre8 vention efforts of law enforcement, juvenile correc9 tions, and youth social service agencies. 

10 (e) RECOVERY ACTION PROGRAM GRANTS.—The 

11 Secretary is authorized to provide up to 50 percent match12 ing grants to eligible general purpose local government ap13 plicants for recovery action program development and 

14 planning to meet the objectives of this section. 

15 SEC. 8. STATE ACTION INCENTIVE; FEDERAL GRANTS, IN16 CREASE. 

17 The Secretary is authorized to increase Federal reha18 bilitation and construction, innovation, and at-risk youth 

19 recreation grants authorized in section 6 of this Act by 

20 providing an additional match equal to the total match 

21 provided by a State of up to 15 percent of total project 

22 or program costs. In no event may the Federal matching 

23 amount exceed 85 percent of total project or program cost. 

24 The Secretary shall further encourage the States to assist 

25 in assuring that local recovery plans and programs are 


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1 adequately implemented by cooperating with the Depart2 ment of Housing and Urban Development in monitoring 

3 local park and recreation recovery action programs and 

4 in assuring consistency of such plans and programs, where 

5 appropriate, with State recreation policies as set forth in 

6 statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plans. 

7 SEC. 9. MATCHING REQUIREMENTS; NON-FEDERAL SHARE 

8 OF PROJECT OR PROGRAM COSTS. 

9 (a) NON-FEDERAL SOURCES.—The non-Federal 

10 share of project or program costs assisted under this Act 

11 may be derived from— 

12 (1) general or special purpose State or local 

13 revenues; 

14 (2) State categorical grants; 

15 (3) special appropriations by State legislatures; 

16 (4) donations of land, buildings, or building ma17 terials; 

18 (5) in-kind construction, technical, and plan19 ning services; or 

20 (6) any combination of paragraphs (1) through 

21 (5). 

22 (b) PROHIBITED SOURCES.—No moneys from any 

23 Federal grant program other than general revenue sharing 

24 and the community development and energy efficiency and 


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1 conservation block grant programs shall be used to match 

2 Federal grants under this program. 

3 (c) PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Secretary shall 

4 encourage States and private interests to contribute, to 

5 the maximum extent possible, to the non-Federal share of 

6 project or program costs. 

7 SEC. 10. CONVERSION OF RECREATION PROPERTY. 

8 No property improved or developed with assistance 

9 under this Act shall, without the approval of the Sec10 retary, be converted for uses other than for public recre11 ation. The Secretary shall approve such conversion only 

12 if the Secretary determines it to be in accord with the cur13 rent local park and recreation recovery action program 

14 and only upon such conditions as the Secretary determines 

15 necessary to assure the provision of adequate recreation 

16 properties and opportunities of reasonably equivalent loca17 tion and usefulness. 

18 SEC. 11. COORDINATION OF PROGRAM. 

19 The Secretary shall— 

20 (1) coordinate the urban revitalization and liv21 able communities program with other Federal de22 partments and agencies and with State agencies that 

23 administer programs and policies affecting urban 

24 areas such as the White House Office of Urban Pol25 icy and departments that administer programs and 


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1 policies affecting climate change, green jobs, hous2 ing, urban development, natural resources manage3 ment, employment, transportation, community serv4 ices, and voluntary action; 

5 (2) encourage maximum coordination of the 

6 program between appropriate State agencies and 

7 general purpose local government applicants; and 

8 (3) require that general purpose local govern9 ment applicants include provisions for participation 

10 of community and neighborhood residents and for 

11 public-private coordination in recovery action pro12 gram planning and project selection. 

13 SEC. 12. REPORT; RECORDKEEPING; AUDIT AND EXAMINA14 TION. 

15 (a) REPORT.—Each recipient of assistance under this 

16 Act shall submit to the Secretary, for each fiscal year such 

17 assistance is received, an annual report detailing the 

18 projects and programs undertaken with such assistance, 

19 the number of jobs created by such assistance, and any 

20 other information the Secretary determines appropriate 

21 based on the priority criteria established by the Secretary 

22 under section 5. 

23 (b) RECORDKEEPING.—Each recipient of assistance 

24 under this Act shall keep such records as the Secretary 

25 shall prescribe, including records that fully disclose the 


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1 amount and disposition of project or program under2 takings in connection with which assistance under this Act 

3 is given or used, and the amount and nature of that por4 tion of the cost of the project or program undertaking sup5 plied by other sources, and such other records as will fa6 cilitate an effective audit. 

7 (c) AUDIT AND EXAMINATION.—The Secretary and 

8 the Comptroller General of the United States, or their 

9 duly authorized representatives, shall have access, for the 

10 purpose of audit and examination, to any books, docu11 ments, papers, and records of a recipient of assistance 

12 under this Act that are pertinent to such assistance. 

13 SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro15 priated to carry out this Act $445,000,000 for each of 

16 the fiscal years 2011 through 2021. 

17 (b) RECOVERY ACTION PROGRAM GRANTS.—Not 

18 more than 3 percent of the funds authorized in any fiscal 

19 year may be used for grants for the development of local 

20 park and recreation recovery action programs pursuant to 

21 section 7 of this Act. 

22 (c) INNOVATION GRANTS.—Not more than 10 per23 cent of the funds authorized in any fiscal year may be 

24 used for innovation grants pursuant to section 6 of this 

25 Act. 


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1 (d) DISCRETIONARY FUND.—Notwithstanding any 

2 other provision of this Act or any other law or regulation, 

3 there are further authorized to be appropriated 

4 $1,100,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 

5 2021, to remain available until expended, to each of the 

6 insular areas. Such sums will not be subject to the match7 ing provisions of this Act, and may only be subject to such 

8 conditions, reports, plans, and agreements, if any, as de9 termined by the Secretary. 

10 SEC. 14. LIMITATION OF USE OF FUNDS. 

11 None of the funds made available pursuant to this 

12 Act shall be used for the acquisition of land or interests 

13 in land. 

14 SEC. 15. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

15 (a) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 5 years after 

16 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

17 submit to Congress an interim report containing such 

18 findings and recommendations as the Secretary deter19 mines appropriate with respect to the urban revitalization 

20 and livable communities program established under this 

21 Act. 

22 (b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 10 years after 

23 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

24 submit to Congress a report describing the overall impact 


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1 of the urban revitalization and livable communities pro2 gram established under this Act. 

Æ 


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