Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act (H.R. 3734)

The Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act, introduced by Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) and 102 co-sponsors, would authorize $445 million to be appropriated annually for FY 2011 – FY 2021.  Funding would be provided through matching federal assistance grants and could be used by parks and recreation agencies to rehabilitate existing, and develop new, urban parks and community recreational infrastructure as well as for the continued investment in programs that improve public health, increase daily physical activity, reconnect children with nature, reduce crime, provide safe healthy alternatives for at-risk youth, encourage environmental stewardship, and foster local economic development.

Green Communities Act (H.R. 2222)

Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the Economic Development Administration, to make grants to municipalities to promote community greening initiatives (defined as programs increasing economic development through environmental improvements).   Directs the Secretary to select 80 municipalities to receive grants. Requires an eligible program partner to develop and plan such an initiative, which may include revitalizing municipal parks and public spaces, tree plantings, green roof construction, and vacant lot management.  Directs the Secretary to make grants to, or enter into contracts with, five nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to eligible program partners in developing, planning, implementing, and assessing initiatives.

Revitalizing Cities Through Parks Enhancement Act (H.R. 4382)

Introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on 12/16/2009.  Purpose is to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit community organizations for the development of open space on municipally owned vacant lots in urban areas.  This legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Livable Communities Act (S. 1619)

Introduced on 8/6/2009 by Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).  This bill would establish the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, to establish the Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities, to establish a comprehensive planning grant program, to establish a sustainability challenge grant program, and for other purposes. This legislation has been referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009 (H.R. 1612)

The Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009 aims to mobilize thousands of service corps participants over the next few years to help the national parks and other public lands restore and repair lands; engage exponentially more volunteers to serve episodically in the parks; to invest in a new, more diverse generation of National Park Service leaders.  It was introduced to the House of Representatives in April by U.S. Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Nick J. Rahall (D-WV).  Projects could include rehabilitating campgrounds, restoring historic structures, eradicating invasive species, educating visitors, or conducting science and research projects throughout the park system. They might also reach out to communities and help enhance interpretation and education of national park visitors.
Currently the Public Land Corps — a partnership between The Corps Network and the National Park Service — brings corps members into the parks. The Public Lands Service Corps Act would expand the scope and the mission of the current program, including bringing in the experience and skills of older Americans as Encore Fellows (a program recently authorized by the Serve America Act). The Encore Fellows could potentially help train corps members.

Land and Water Conservation Fund

The LWCF program provides matching grants to States and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high quality recreation areas and facilities and to stimulate non-federal investments in the protection and maintenance of recreation resources across the United States.  Since 1977, LWCF has been authorized at a level of $900 million per year, to be derived largely from Treasury receipts stemming from federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leases, and to be used for the public acquisition (federal and non-federal) of lands with outstanding natural, recreation, scenic, and other attributes, and for the development of outdoor recreation lands and facilities at the state and local level.  The fund, however, has been chronically shortchanged in the annual budget and appropriations process, leaving an unfunded LWCF balance of nearly $20 billion, a huge land protection and outdoor recreation grant backlog, and myriad landscapes where, without timely and adequate funding, key resources already have been lost forever to incompatible development.