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NRPA asks Congress to include Parks & Recreation funding in Economic Recovery Package

From the National Recreation and Park Association

NRPA urges supporters to contact Congress on January 15 and Urge Congressional Leaders to Include Funding for Parks and Recreation in the Economic Recovery Package.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representatives and Senators.

Key points:

* Demonstrate that you support the funding requests put forth by the National Recreation and Park Association.
* Specifically ask your Representative to sign the letter being circulated by Reps. Joe Courtney and Maurice Hinchey, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The letter supports the NRPA funding requests and urges inclusion of funding for parks and recreation in the economic recovery package. (Deadline for Congressional offices to sign is 5:00 pm EST Friday, January 16.)
* Inform your Member of Congress of the unmet needs that exist in your area and how LWCF, UPARR and CDBG funding would benefit your community.
* Tell your Senators and Representatives of the LWCF stateside assistance program. Share how UPARR, CDBG and NPSC are ideally suited to achieving the goals of the proposed economic recovery package by creating jobs, spurring economic revitalization, and enhancing the overall quality of life and economic vitality of all communities.

We have an opportunity to have parks and recreation added to the economic recovery package, but your voice is needed to make it happen. President-elect Obama and the U.S. Congress have been working to create an economic recovery package that could include as much as $750 billion for a wide range of local infrastructure projects aimed at putting people back to work and stimulating spending.

NRPA has been advocating to have funding for park and recreation agencies inserted into the economic recovery package and now Congress must hear from you on January 15 about the needs that exist for rehabilitation and renovation of our infrastructure.

Our specific funding requests are:

1. $125 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Stateside Assistance Program

2. $100 million for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR)

3. Increased funding up to $20 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

4. Increased funding for the National Parks Service Corps (NPSC)

So we can best continue our advocacy efforts, please let Becky Webb-Morser (bwebbmorser@nrpa.org) know if you've contacted your Senators or Representatives.

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