In opening up an issue diverse meeting of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson announced that he will be hosting a special meeting of the Committee on May 3-5 in his city. " Holding a special meeting in Indianapolis will allow us more time to discuss ways our cities can be cultural and artistic centers," stated Mayor Peterson. Agenda items and registration materials will be sent to mayors shortly. The meeting will take place prior to the beginning of the time trials for the Indianapolis 500, the Mayor announced.

Funding for local parks was a major agenda item for the Committee. Jane Danowitz, the past executive director of Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation, reviewed for the mayors recent Congressional action funding the stateside program of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR). For this fiscal year, the stateside program of LWCF, received $90 million and the UPARR program $30 million. Tom Ross from the National Park Service (NPS) explained the procedures that the NPS will be using in disbursing the funds. He announced that regulations containing the guidelines will be posted in the Federal Register later this month. Following the parks funding presentations, the mayors thanked Ms. Danowitz for her leadership in helping to secure this year's local parks appropriations.

An announcement was made concerning " National Care for Students Day" which will be held on April 20th. This Day is being modeled after a similar Day sponsored last year by Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and the Minnesota Vikings. As part of the Day's activities, sports figures went to local schools promoting positive messages for young people. Martin Gold, the Washington representative for the National Football League was on hand to explain the NFL's youth recreation programs. Richard Bowers from the PGA's Tour talked about their "First Tee" program which promotes golf instruction among inner-city children.

Following on two previous held events at the Winter Meeting, the Mayors Arts Gala and the presentation of the Presidential Award for Design Excellence, the mayors heard from Robert Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts, who discussed the outlook for continued federal support of the arts with the new Administration and Congress. Christine Saum, director of the Mayors Institute on City Design, talked about the program and how mayors can participate in the national and regional institutes. Beverly Hills Mayor Vicki Reynolds talked about the importance that arts education has played in her community.