II 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3583 

To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish 

and carry out a community revitalization program to provide Federal 

grants to communities for the rehabilitation of critically needed parks, 

recreational areas, and facilities, the development of improved recreational programs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 

Mrs. HAGAN (for herself, Mr. KERRY, and Mrs. GILLIBRAND) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish and carry out a community revitalization program to provide Federal grants to communities 

for the rehabilitation of critically needed parks, recreational areas, and facilities, the development of improved recreational programs, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Community Parks Re5 vitalization Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) According to the 2010 United States Cen4 sus, over 80 percent of the population of the United 

5 States lives in urban areas. 

6 (2) Urban parks are a critical part of our Na7 tion’s urban infrastructure, playing a vital role in re8 vitalizing neighborhoods, stimulating our Nation’s 

9 economy, combating national issues such as obesity 

10 and juvenile delinquency, and protecting our envi11 ronment. 

12 (3) Urban parks are a catalyst for active out13 door recreation, an industry which in 2010 sup14 ported 6,100,000 American jobs, generated 

15 $646,000,000,000 in retail sales and services across 

16 the United States, generated $39,900,000,000 in 

17 Federal tax revenues, and $39,900,000,000 in State 

18 and local tax revenues. 

19 (4) Studies also show that approximately 20 

20 jobs are created for every $1,000,000 invested in 

21 parks and conservation projects. 

22 (5) Studies have found that parkland saves cit23 ies millions of dollars in storm water management 

24 and air pollution expenses by capturing precipita25 tion, reducing runoff, and absorbing air pollutants. 


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1 (6) Between 2001 and 2012, as funding for 

2 local parks and recreation significantly declined, the 

3 number of adults classified as overweight or obese 

4 steadily increased from 61 percent to 67 percent. 

5 Similarly, during this same period, the number of 

6 children and adolescents classified as overweight or 

7 obese nearly tripled, going from 12 percent in 2001 

8 to 33 percent in 2011. 

9 (7) Physical inactivity contributes to obesity 

10 and takes a toll on our Nation’s economy, as the an11 nual costs of medical spending and lost productivity 

12 from individuals in the United States being obese 

13 and overweight are estimated to be 

14 $147,000,000,000. Access to urban parks is critical 

15 to combating this issue. A study by the Centers for 

16 Disease Control found that the creation of, or en17 hanced access to, places for physical activity, such as 

18 parks, led to a 25.6 percent increase in the percent19 age of people exercising on 3 or more days a week 

20 which improves the physical and mental health of 

21 our citizens. 

22 (8) Access to urban parks is critical to com23 bating obesity and its residual impact on health care 

24 expenses. A study by the Centers for Disease Con25 trol and Prevention found that the creation of, or 


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1 enhanced access to, places for physical activity, such 

2 as parks, led to a 25.6 percent increase in the per3 centage of people exercising on 3 or more days a 

4 week, which improves the physical and mental health 

5 of our citizens. 

6 (9) According to the Centers for Disease con7 trol and Prevention, over the 25 years preceding the 

8 date of enactment of this Act, rates of obesity have 

9 more than tripled among adolescents ages 12 to 19 

10 and doubled among adults ages 20 to 74 and chil11 dren ages 6 to 11. 

12 (10) Physical inactivity contributes to obesity. 

13 A study by the CDC found that the creation of, or 

14 enhanced access to, places for physical activity led to 

15 a 25.6 percent increase in the percentage of people 

16 exercising on 3 or more days a week. Physical activ17 ity can improve physical and mental health. The an18 nual costs of medical spending and lost productivity 

19 from individuals in the United States being obese 

20 and overweight are estimated to be 

21 $147,000,000,000. 

22 (11) Urban parks also decrease juvenile delin23 quency by providing quality after school programs. 

24 According to the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, without 

25 structured, supervised activities in the after school 


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1 hours, youth are at greater risk of being victims of 

2 crime or participating in anti-social behaviors, espe3 cially during the hours of 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. 

4 (12) The National Youth Violence Prevention 

5 Resource Center reported that students who spend 

6 no time in extracurricular activities, such as those 

7 offered in after-school programs through parks and 

8 recreation agencies, are 49 percent more likely to 

9 have used drugs and 37 percent more likely to be10 come teen parents than are those students who 

11 spend 1 to 4 hours per week in extracurricular ac12 tivities. 

13 (13) According to the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, 

14 without structured, supervised activities in the after15 school hours, youth are at greater risk of being vic16 tims of crime or participating in anti-social behav17 iors. Juveniles are at the highest risk of being a vic18 tim of crime between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and 

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

20 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the first hour after most stu21 dents are dismissed from school. 

22 SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 

23 The purposes of this Act are— 

24 (1) to authorize the Secretary to establish and 

25 carry out a community revitalization program to 


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1 provide Federal grants to communities for the reha2 bilitation of critically needed parks, recreational 

3 areas, and facilities, the development of improved 

4 recreational programs, and for other purposes; 

5 (2) to improve urban areas through economic 

6 development; 

7 (3) to prevent and improve chronic disease out8 comes, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, de9 pression, and obesity; 

10 (4) to improve recreational areas and facilities 

11 and expand recreation services in urban areas with 

12 a high incidence of crime and to help expand recre13 ation opportunities for at-risk youth; 

14 (5) to promote collaboration between local agen15 cies involved in parks and recreation, law enforce16 ment, youth social services, and juvenile justice sys17 tem; 

18 (6) to ensure accessibility to therapeutic recre19 ation services and to provide recreation opportunities 

20 for injured or disabled members of the Armed 

21 Forces; and 

22 (7) to encourage the rehabilitation of existing 

23 and construction of new urban recreational areas 

24 and facilities with environmentally beneficial compo25 nents, when possible, such as sustainable landscape 


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1 features and upcycled and recycled materials, and to 

2 prioritize the selection of projects that provide envi3 ronmental benefits to urban areas, including by up4 dating lighting, planting trees, increasing the urban 

5 forestry canopy, improving stormwater management, 

6 increasing green infrastructure, employing water 

7 conservation measures, and adding green spaces to 

8 urban areas. 

9 SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

10 In this Act, the following definitions shall apply: 

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

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

13 other facilities that are dedicated to recreation pur14 poses and administered by public or private non15 profit agencies to serve the recreation needs of com16 munity residents, with emphasis on public facilities 

17 readily accessible to residential neighborhoods, in18 cluding multiple-use community centers that have 

19 recreation as a primary purpose, but excluding 

20 major sports arenas, exhibition areas, and con21 ference halls used primarily for commercial sports, 

22 spectator, or display activities. 

23 (2) The term ‘‘rehabilitation and construction 

24 grants’’ means matching capital grants to local gov25 ernments for the purpose of rebuilding, remodeling, 


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1 expanding, or developing existing or building new 

2 recreational areas and facilities, including improve3 ments in park landscapes, infrastructure, buildings, 

4 and support facilities, and the provision of lighting, 

5 emergency phones, or other capital improvements to 

6 improve the security of urban parks, but excluding 

7 routine maintenance and upkeep activities. 

8 (3) The term ‘‘innovation and recreation pro9 gram’’ grants means matching grants to local gov10 ernments to cover costs of personnel, facilities, 

11 equipment, supplies, or services designed to dem12 onstrate innovative and cost effective ways to aug13 ment park and recreation opportunities, or support 

14 new or existing programs, which increase access to 

15 recreation opportunities for returning veterans and 

16 active duty military and their families or provide 

17 constructive alternatives for youth at risk for engag18 ing in criminal behavior. 

19 (4) The term ‘‘recovery action program grants’’ 

20 means matching grants to local governments for de21 velopment of local park and recreation recovery ac22 tion programs, including for resource and needs as23 sessment, coordination, citizen involvement and plan24 ning, and program development activities to encourVerDate Mar 15 2010 20:10 Sep 27, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3583.IS S3583

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1 age public definition of goals and develop priorities 

2 and strategies for overall recreation system recovery. 

3 (5) The term ‘‘maintenance’’ means all com4 monly accepted practices necessary to keep rec5 reational areas and facilities operating in a state of 

6 good repair and to protect such areas and facilities 

7 from deterioration resulting from normal wear and 

8 tear. 

9 (6) The term ‘‘local government’’ means any 

10 city, county, town, township, parish, village, or any 

11 local or regional special district such as a park dis12 trict, conservation district, or park authority. 

13 (7) The term ‘‘private nonprofit agency’’ means 

14 a community-based, non-profit organization, cor15 poration, or association organized for purposes of 

16 providing recreation, conservation, and educational 

17 services directly to urban residents on either a 

18 neighborhood or community-wide basis through vol19 untary donations, voluntary labor, or public or pri20 vate grants. 

21 (8) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

22 of Housing and Urban Development. 

23 (9) The term ‘‘State’’ means any State of the 

24 United States (or any instrumentality of a State apVerDate Mar 15 2010 20:10 Sep 27, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3583.IS S3583

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1 proved by the Governor), the District of Columbia, 

2 and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

3 (10) The term ‘‘insular areas’’ means Guam, 

4 the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the North5 ern Mariana Islands. 

6 SEC. 5. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS. 

7 (a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after 

8 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall pro9 mulgate regulations establishing a community revitaliza10 tion program to provide Federal rehabilitation and con11 struction grants, innovation and recreation programming 

12 grants, and recovery action program grants in accordance 

13 with this Act. 

14 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The regulations required 

15 under subsection (a) shall include— 

16 (1) eligibility requirements for the grant pro17 gram established pursuant to such subsection; 

18 (2) the timing and form of applications required 

19 to be submitted to the Secretary by local govern20 ments seeking such grants; 

21 (3) required elements of any grant application 

22 required to be submitted to the Secretary by local 

23 governments seeking such grants; 


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1 (4) criteria for priority selection and approval 

2 by the Secretary in choosing which local govern3 ments receive grant funds; 

4 (5) guidelines for seeking modification of a 

5 project to be funded or which is funded by the grant 

6 program established pursuant to such subsection; 

7 and 

8 (6) penalties placed on local governments that 

9 received amounts under the grant program estab10 lished pursuant to such subsection for failing to 

11 comply with the reporting and recordkeeping re12 quirements set forth in section 13, up to and includ13 ing rescission of grant amounts for repetitive viola14 tions. 

15 SEC. 6. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PRIORITY CRI16 TERIA. 

17 (a) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—In developing the regula19 tions required under section 5(a), the Secretary shall 

20 set forth eligibility requirements for receiving grants 

21 under the community revitalization program estab22 lished pursuant to this Act. 

23 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—The eligibility require24 ments required to be established under paragraph 

25 (1) shall be based on— 


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1 (A) evidence of a commitment to ongoing 

2 planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and 

3 maintenance programs for park and recreations 

4 systems, as described in section 8; 

5 (B) population density (the number of per6 sons per square mile of land area); 

7 (C) total population under 18 years of age 

8 or over 59 years of age; 

9 (D) the number of unemployed people as a 

10 percentage of the civilian labor force; 

11 (E) the percent of households without 

12 automobiles available; 

13 (F) the percent of persons with income 

14 below 125 percent of the poverty level; 

15 (G) the percent of single-headed house16 holds with children present; and 

17 (H) any additional criteria the Secretary 

18 determines appropriate. 

19 (b) PARTIAL ELIGIBILITY WAIVER.— 

20 (1) GENERALLY.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

21 the Secretary is authorized to designate local govern22 ments in standard metropolitan statistical areas, as 

23 defined by the most current census, that do not 

24 meet all of the eligibility requirements required 


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1 under subsection (a) as eligible to receive grants 

2 under this Act. 

3 (2) LIMITATION OF FUNDS.—Grants to local 

4 governments described in paragraph (1) shall not ex5 ceed, in the aggregate, 15 percent of the funds ap6 propriated pursuant to this Act for rehabilitation 

7 and construction, innovation and recreation pro8 gram, and recovery action program grants. 

9 (c) ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION.—As part of any ap10 plication process set forth pursuant to the regulations pre11 scribed under section 5, a responsible official for a local 

12 government that has applied for a grant under this Act 

13 shall certify that the local government meets all of the eli14 gibility requirements established under this Act with re15 spect to receipt of grant amounts under the community 

16 revitalization program established pursuant to this Act. If 

17 a local government applies for a partial eligibility waiver 

18 under subsection (b), such certification shall specify which 

19 of the eligibility requirements are met by the local govern20 ment. 

21 (d) PRIORITY CRITERIA.— 

22 (1) GENERAL PRIORITY CRITERIA.—The Sec23 retary shall establish priority criteria for the selec24 tion and approval of projects to be funded by grant 

25 amounts made available pursuant to this Act. The 


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1 priority criteria established under this subsection 

2 shall be based on factors such as— 

3 (A) a higher population density of the 

4 project neighborhood; 

5 (B) demonstrated deficiencies in the condi6 tion of existing recreational areas and facilities 

7 in the project neighborhood; 

8 (C) demonstrated deficiencies in access to 

9 neighborhood recreation opportunities, particu10 larly for minority and low- and moderate-in11 come residents, veterans or active duty military 

12 families, and residents with physical or mental 

13 disabilities; 

14 (D) the number of unemployed people as a 

15 percentage of the civilian labor force of the 

16 project neighborhood; 

17 (E) public participation in determining re18 habilitation or development needs; 

19 (F) the extent to which a project or pro20 gram supports or complements target activities 

21 undertaken as part of a local government’s 

22 overall community development and urban revi23 talization program; 

24 (G) the extent to which such a project 

25 would— 


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1 (i) provide employment opportunities 

2 for minorities, youth, and low- and mod3 erate-income residents in the project neigh4 borhood; and 

5 (ii) provide for participation of neigh6 borhood, nonprofit, or tenant organizations 

7 in the proposed rehabilitation and con8 struction activity or in subsequent mainte9 nance, staffing, or supervision of rec10 reational areas and facilities; 

11 (H) the amount of State, local, and private 

12 support for the project as evidenced by commit13 ments of non-Federal resources to project con14 struction or operation; and 

15 (I) any additional criteria the Secretary de16 termines appropriate. 

17 (2) PRIORITY CRITERIA FOR REHABILITATION

18 AND CONSTRUCTION GRANTS.—In addition to the 

19 general priority criteria established under paragraph 

20 (1), the Secretary shall establish priority criteria for 

21 the selection and approval of projects to be funded 

22 by a rehabilitation and construction grant made pur23 suant to this Act, including whether the project— 

24 (A) builds recreational areas and facilities 

25 in areas that are located within half a mile of 


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1 public housing or a school and do not currently 

2 have indoor or outdoor facilities; 

3 (B) creates, maintains, or revitalizes play4 grounds or active play areas for children; 

5 (C) connects children to the outdoors for 

6 physical activity and access to nature; 

7 (D) promotes physical activity for individ8 uals and the community at large; 

9 (E) works collaboratively with local govern10 ments, colleges, and universities, and other in11 stitutions to track the longitudinal rates of 

12 chronic diseases in the community such as car13 diovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and 

14 obesity; 

15 (F) uses environmentally beneficial compo16 nents such as sustainable landscape features 

17 and upcycled and recycled materials; 

18 (G) provides environmental benefits to 

19 urban areas, including by— 

20 (i) updating lighting; 

21 (ii) planting trees; 

22 (iii) increasing the urban forestry can23 opy; 

24 (iv) improving stormwater manage25 ment; 


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1 (v) increasing green infrastructure; 

2 (vi) employing water conservation 

3 measures; or 

4 (vii) adding green spaces; 

5 (H) connects to public transportation; 

6 (I) uses LEED Green Building Standards 

7 or contains energy efficiency components such 

8 as energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems, 

9 and uses SITES sustainable landscape stand10 ards, or other sustainable components and prac11 tices; 

12 (J) contains safe trails or routes, such as 

13 trails, bikeways, and sidewalks that connect to 

14 neighborhoods and enhance access to parks and 

15 recreational areas and facilities; 

16 (K) enhances or expands youth develop17 ment in neighborhoods and communities by en18 gaging youth in environmental stewardship, 

19 conservation, and service projects; 

20 (L) updates existing equipment or facilities 

21 to be in compliance with the most recent acces22 sibility guidelines published by the United 

23 States Access Board, specifically by removing 

24 architectural barriers so that sites comply or 

25 exceed the requirements of the final guidelines 


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1 for the accessibility of recreational areas and 

2 facilities; or 

3 (M) constructs new facilities or sites to 

4 comply with or exceed the minimum require5 ments of the final guidelines for the accessi6 bility of recreational sites and facilities pub7 lished by the United States Access Board. 

8 (3) PRIORITY CRITERIA FOR INNOVATION AND

9 RECREATION PROGRAM GRANTS.—In addition to the 

10 general priority criteria established under paragraph 

11 (1), the Secretary shall establish priority criteria for 

12 the selection and approval of programs to be funded 

13 by an innovation and recreation program grant 

14 made pursuant to this Act, including whether the 

15 project or program— 

16 (A) promotes the unique integration of 

17 recreation with other community services, such 

18 as transportation, public housing and public 

19 safety, either to expand or update current serv20 ices, or to link programs within the social serv21 ice structure of a neighborhood or between 

22 neighborhoods; 

23 (B) utilizes new management and cost-sav24 ing or service-efficient approaches for improving 

25 the delivery of recreation services; 


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1 (C) serves communities with a high popu2 lation of active military families or veterans; 

3 (D) ensures accessibility to therapeutic 

4 recreation services and provides recreation op5 portunities for injured or disabled members of 

6 the Armed Forces; 

7 (E) employs veterans, youth, or uses youth 

8 volunteers; 

9 (F) targets youth that are at the greatest 

10 risk of becoming involved in violence and crime; 

11 (G) demonstrates past success in providing 

12 constructive alternatives to youth at risk for en13 gaging in criminal behavior 

14 (H) demonstrates collaboration between 

15 local park and recreation, juvenile justice, law 

16 enforcement, and youth social service agencies 

17 and nongovernmental entities, including private, 

18 nonprofit agencies; 

19 (I) shows the greatest potential of being 

20 continued with non-Federal funds or may serve 

21 as models for other communities. 

22 SEC. 7. REHABILITATION AND INNOVATION AND RECRE23 ATION PROGRAM GRANTS. 

24 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—Upon approval of an applica25 tion by the chief executive of an eligible local government, 


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1 the Secretary may provide 70 percent matching rehabilita2 tion and construction grants and innovation and recre3 ation program grants directly to such eligible local govern4 ment. 

5 (b) TRANSFER.—At the discretion of a local govern6 ment receiving a rehabilitation and construction grant or 

7 innovation and recreation program grant pursuant to sub8 section (a), and if consistent with an approved application, 

9 such a grant may be transferred in whole or in part to 

10 private nonprofit agencies, provided that assisted rec11 reational areas and facilities owned or managed by such 

12 private nonprofit agencies offer recreation opportunities to 

13 the general population within the jurisdictional boundaries 

14 of the local government. 

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

16 for rehabilitation and construction or innovation and 

17 recreation projects and 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 AND

8 RECREATION PROGRAM.—Innovation grants shall cor9 respond to the goals, priorities, and implementation strat10 egies expressed in local park and recreation recovery ac11 tion programs, with particular regard to the special con12 siderations listed in section 8(b) of this Act. 

13 SEC. 8. 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 local government applying for a grant 

18 under this Act shall submit to the Secretary evidence 

19 of its commitment to ongoing planning, rehabilita20 tion, service, operation, and maintenance programs 

21 for its park and recreation systems. Such commit22 ment shall be expressed in a local park and recre23 ation recovery action program that maximizes co24 ordination of all community resources, including 


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1 other federally supported urban development and 

2 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 local government that define objectives, priorities, 

9 and implementation strategies for overall system re10 covery and maintenance and commit such local gov11 ernment to a scheduled program development proc12 ess. 

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

14 interim period under paragraph (2), each local gov15 ernment applicant shall submit to the Secretary, as 

16 a condition of eligibility, a 5-year park and recre17 ation recovery action program that demonstrates— 

18 (A) identification of recovery objectives, 

19 priorities, and implementation strategies; 

20 (B) adequate planning for rehabilitation of 

21 specific recreational areas and facilities, includ22 ing projections of the cost of proposed projects; 

23 (C) capacity and commitment to assure 

24 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 local gov16 ernments to meet recovery action program require17 ments through a continuing planning process which 

18 includes periodic improvements and updates in re19 covery action program submissions to eliminate iden20 tified gaps in program information and policy devel21 opment. 

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) INNOVATION AND RECREATION PROGRAM

22 GRANT.— 

23 (1) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible to re24 ceive an at-risk youth recreation grant, a local gov25 ernment shall— 


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1 (A) include in its 5-year park and recre2 ation recovery action program the goal of— 

3 (i) utilizing new ideas, concepts, and 

4 approaches aimed at improving facility de5 sign, operations, or programming in the 

6 delivery of recreation services; 

7 (ii) increased access of therapeutic or 

8 other recreation services to veterans and 

9 military families; or 

10 (iii) reducing crime and juvenile delin11 quency; and 

12 (B) provide a description of implementa13 tion strategies to achieve such goals. 

14 (2) COORDINATION.—The description of imple15 mentation strategies under paragraph (1) shall also 

16 address how the local government is coordinating its 

17 recreation programs with other community develop18 ment or service agencies. 

19 (e) RECOVERY ACTION PROGRAM GRANTS.—The 

20 Secretary is authorized to provide up to 50 percent match21 ing grants to eligible local government applicants for re22 covery action program development and planning to meet 

23 the objectives of this section. 


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1 SEC. 9. STATE ACTION INCENTIVE; FEDERAL GRANTS, IN2 CREASE. 

3 The Secretary is authorized to increase Federal reha4 bilitation and construction grants and innovation and 

5 recreation program grants authorized under section 7, by 

6 providing an additional match equal to the total match 

7 provided by a State of up to 15 percent of the total project 

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

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

10 The Secretary shall further encourage the States to assist 

11 in assuring that local recovery plans and programs are 

12 adequately implemented by cooperating with the Depart13 ment of Housing and Urban Development in monitoring 

14 local park and recreation recovery action programs and 

15 in assuring consistency of such plans and programs, where 

16 appropriate, with State recreation policies as set forth in 

17 statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plans. 

18 SEC. 10. MATCHING REQUIREMENTS; NON-FEDERAL SHARE 

19 OF PROJECT OR PROGRAM COSTS. 

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

21 share of project or program costs assisted under this Act 

22 may be derived from— 

23 (1) general or special purpose State or local 

24 revenues; 

25 (2) State categorical grants; 

26 (3) special appropriations by State legislatures; 


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1 (4) donations of land, buildings, or building ma2 terials; 

3 (5) in-kind construction, technical, and plan4 ning services; or 

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

6 (5). 

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

8 Federal grant program other than general revenue sharing 

9 and the community development and energy efficiency and 

10 conservation block grant programs shall be used to match 

11 Federal grants under this program. 

12 (c) PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Secretary shall 

13 encourage States and private interests to contribute, to 

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

15 project or program costs. 

16 SEC. 11. CONVERSION OF RECREATION PROPERTY. 

17 No property improved or developed with assistance 

18 under this Act shall, without the approval of the Sec19 retary, be converted for uses other than for public recre20 ation. The Secretary shall approve such conversion only 

21 if the Secretary determines it to be consistent with the 

22 current local park and recreation recovery action program 

23 and only upon such conditions as the Secretary determines 

24 necessary to assure the provision of adequate recreation 


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1 properties and opportunities of reasonably equivalent loca2 tion and usefulness. 

3 SEC. 12. COORDINATION OF PROGRAM. 

4 The Secretary shall— 

5 (1) coordinate the urban revitalization and liv6 able communities program with other Federal de7 partments and agencies and with State agencies that 

8 administer programs and policies affecting urban 

9 areas such as the White House Office of Urban Pol10 icy and departments that administer programs and 

11 policies affecting climate change, green jobs, hous12 ing, urban development, natural resources manage13 ment, employment, transportation, community serv14 ices, and voluntary action; 

15 (2) encourage maximum coordination of the 

16 program between appropriate State agencies and 

17 local government applicants; and 

18 (3) require that local government applicants in19 clude provisions for participation of community and 

20 neighborhood residents, including youth, and for 

21 public-private coordination in recovery action pro22 gram planning and project selection. 


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1 SEC. 13. REPORT; RECORDKEEPING; AUDIT AND EXAMINA2 TION. 

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

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

5 assistance is received, an annual report detailing the 

6 projects and programs undertaken with such assistance, 

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

8 other information the Secretary determines appropriate 

9 based on the priority criteria established by the Secretary 

10 under sections 5 and 6. 

11 (b) RECORDKEEPING.—Each recipient of assistance 

12 under this Act shall keep such records as the Secretary 

13 shall prescribe, including records that fully disclose the 

14 amount and disposition of project or program under15 takings in connection with which assistance under this Act 

16 is given or used, and the amount and nature of that por17 tion of the cost of the project or program undertaking sup18 plied by other sources, and such other records as will fa19 cilitate an effective audit. 

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

21 the Comptroller General of the United States, or their 

22 duly authorized representatives, shall have access, for the 

23 purpose of audit and examination, to any books, docu24 ments, papers, and records of a recipient of assistance 

25 under this Act that are pertinent to such assistance. 


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1 SEC. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro3 priated such sums as necessary to carry out this Act for 

4 each of fiscal years 2013 through 2022. 

5 (b) RECOVERY ACTION PROGRAM GRANTS.—Not 

6 more than 3 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant 

7 to subsection (a) in any fiscal year may be used for grants 

8 for the development of local park and recreation recovery 

9 action programs pursuant to section 8 of this Act. 

10 (c) INNOVATION AND RECREATION PROGRAM

11 GRANTS.—Not more than 10 percent of the funds appro12 priated pursuant to subsection (a) in any fiscal year may 

13 be used for innovation grants pursuant to section 7 of this 

14 Act. 

15 (d) DISCRETIONARY FUND.—Notwithstanding any 

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

17 not more than 2 percent of the funds appropriated pursu18 ant to subsection (a) in any fiscal year may be used to 

19 provide rehabilitation and construction grants, innovation 

20 and recreation program grants, and recovery action pro21 gram grants to be used in the insular areas. Such sums 

22 will not be subject to the matching provisions of this Act, 

23 and may only be subject to such conditions, reports, plans, 

24 and agreements, if any, as determined by the Secretary. 


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1 SEC. 15. LIMITATION OF USE OF FUNDS. 

2 Not more than 10 percent of funds appropriated pur3 suant to section 14 for rehabilitation and construction 

4 grants in any fiscal year may be used for the acquisition 

5 of lands or interests in land. 

6 SEC. 16. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

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

8 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub9 mit to Congress an interim report containing such findings 

10 and recommendations as the Secretary determines appro11 priate with respect to the community revitalization pro12 gram established pursuant to this Act. 

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

14 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub15 mit to Congress a report describing the overall impact of 

16 the community revitalization program established pursu17 ant to this Act. 

Æ 


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