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Talking Points for LWCF, UPARR

TALKING POINTS


In Support of Full and Permanent Funds for the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance and Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Programs

  • Congress has authorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund to reinvest a portion of revenues generated from the depletion of a non-renewable, public resource (Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas), into recreation and conservation initiatives which would create long-term public value. The stateside component of the fund was intended to ensure that a portion of the public’s OCS revenue funds would be invested at the local level -- thereby ensuring that all Americans would have access to quality recreation opportunities and experiences. Although studies show that Americans most frequently recreate close to home, Congress has provided funds for state and local recreation resources for the first time this year since 1995. By failing to consistently fund LWCF state assistance and UPARR, Congress has ignored the growing need for close to home recreation access and walked away from a critical part of the LWCF promise.
  • NOW is the time for Congress to restore the LWCF promise! Quality of life issues such as urban sprawl and environmental degradation often top local concerns and define political agendas. Other social issues such as juvenile crime, delinquency and sedentary lifestyles are of growing concern. Moreover, current predictions project a federal budget surplus for the first time in decades. Congress should seize this opportunity to ensure that public resources will be invested to create a legacy of open space, ball fields, picnic areas, pathways and recreation centers for our children.
  • A growing population and continued increase in working mothers and single-parent homes have intensified the need for child care and after-school services. Five to seven million children have no parental supervision during non-school hours when the most pervasive youth problems, such as drug use and gang activity, occur. Local recreation agencies provide affordable, high quality and secure childcare and youth services. Urban parks grants can ensure that youth in the nation’s most distressed urban areas have access to recreation facilities, programs and staff that offer constructive recreation, academic support and mentoring activities.
  • Recreation as Prevention strategies help to reduce juvenile crime. Preventing juvenile delinquency can also defray other public costs. According to a study at Vanderbilt University's Owens Graduate School of Management, preventing one youth from beginning a life of crime can save society as much as $2 million over the course of a lifetime (Mark A. Cohen, "The Monetary Value of Saving a High Risk Youth," Vanderbilt University, 1996).
  • Congress’ failure to adequately and reliably fund LWCF state assistance and UPARR has strained community efforts to provide a network of affordable and accessible park lands and recreation sites. Increasing population, intensified need for after-school services and a growing awareness of the health, economic and other benefits have increased demand for close to home recreation. Despite significant and increasing state and local investment, localities are hard-pressed to keep pace. Research by the National Recreation and Park Association indicates that for the period 2000-2004 local park and recreation systems needed close to $55 billion for capital investments to rehabilitate, enhance and acquire recreation sites and facilities. That is only about $10.9 million per local agency. Only about 6% of the funds were expected to come from federal contributions.
  • LWCF state assistance and UPARR have outstanding records of accomplishment: Both programs require a state/local match (50% for LWCF and 30% for UPARR). These modest federal commitments typically leverage much more from local and state agencies and private entities. From 1965 through 1995, a federal investment of $3.2 billion in LWCF state assistance grants generated a total of $6.8 billion to restore, acquire, plan for and develop over 37,500 state, regional and local park and recreation sites. 54% of those funds were allocated to areas where recreation is deficient. UPARR projects have rehabilitated 290 public playgrounds, 240 recreation centers, 420 urban parks, 200 ballfields, 270 tennis and basketball courts, 170 swimming pools and 140 picnic areas -- providing recreation opportunities for many underserved populations, including older adults, youth in high-risk environments, the physically challenged and residents of public housing complexes.
  • The LWCF Act envisioned a nationwide network of parks, open space and recreation opportunities that would be accessible to all Americans. While federal land systems are an integral and critical part of that network, many Americans rarely visit a federal land area. Rather, these individuals rely on small, community parks to serve as an outlet for recreation and provide a refuge from the stresses of modern life.
  • State and local recreation destinations can alleviate growing pressure on our federal land systems as federal agencies struggle with environmental and budget impacts associated with overuse. By requiring state and local governments to maintain projects "in perpetuity" federal-state-local partnerships can eliminate the potential for future federal maintenance or rehabilitation costs.
  • Parks, open space and close-to-home recreation opportunities create a high quality of life, attracting businesses, residents and investors to communities. Parks typically increase adjacent property values and stimulate economic development associated with creating access and services to support recreation and park facilities. A recent national poll indicates that 85% of Americans agree that parks and open spaces contribute to property values and the economic stability of neighborhoods.
  • State and local processes currently determine the use of LWCF state assistance funds. In order for these modest federal commitments to continue resulting in maximum public benefit and recreation access, this flexibility must be retained.

    Contacts: Barry Tindall or Kelly Place, 202/887-0290

 
What is LWCF

What is UPARR

Talking Points for LWCF, UPARR

Policy Briefing: Capital Investments for Parks and Recreation

LWCF State Liaison Officers

LWCF Grants Web site

UPARR grants available

Policy Statement: Fiscal Resources

Policy Statement: Limited Purpose Accounts, Funds and Trusts

Policy Statement: Renewing the Urban Community

  
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