By Tom McClimon

With a chant of "Support Local Parks" ringing on Capitol Hill, Conference President and Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini led the activities on "Local Parks Day" sponsored by The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). The Day was organized to focus attention on the need for Congress to pass legislation to support local parks and recreation programs.

Mayor Corradini was joined her efforts by Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe, New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, Macon Mayor Jim Marshall, Freeport Mayor William Glacken, and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson along with the President-elect of NACo C. Vernon Gray and First Vice President Jane Hague. In addition, Terrell Davis, the MVP of the Denver Broncos joined with mayors, parks advocates, and local parks and recreation directors from across the country in promoting local parks.

The message of Local Parks Day was " Congress Keep the Promise, Support Local Parks". When Congress established the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1965, it pledged to use the funds collected from off-shore oil and gas drilling to support the development of national, state and local parks. Since the 1980s, Congress has used most of this money for budget deficit reduction leaving very little for state and local parks programs.

The Local Parks Day events included a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, a rally on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and a meeting at the White House with the President's Chief-of-Staff, John Podesta. Mayors who were unable to come to Washington sent to their Members of Congress pictures of local parks along with letters asking their federal legislators to support local parks legislation.

Senate Hearing

Testifying for the Conference of Mayors, Knoxville Mayor and a USCM past president, Victor Ashe laid out before a jammed -packed hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee which was attended by nearly every member of the Committee, the arguments why Congress needed to honor its past commitments to use funds from off-shore oil and gas drilling to support local parks and recreation programs. Different bipartisan legislative proposals have been introduced to fund the state and local assistance program of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR).

In his testimony, Mayor Ashe pointed out that "while Americans are justifiably proud of their national park system, they visit the park in their neighborhood more frequently than they visit Yellowstone or Yosemite. Americans take their children to the ball field almost every weekend in the Spring, but visit the Statue of Liberty once in a lifetime."

Mayor Ashe urged the Committee members not to allow controversies involving federal land takings and national parks lands to interfere with providing support for state and local parks. The Mayor expressed his view that safeguards are in place at the local level to allow for park land issues to be properly resolved.

Mayor Ashe urged the Committee members to keep the LWCF and UPARR programs separate and distinct but with some changes. Changes, Mayor Ashe recommended include:

Guaranteeing a minimum 50% pass through of stateside LWCF funds to urban areas and using the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program as a model.

Revitalizing the UPARR program to be a national competitive program funded annually at $150 million

Transfer the administration of the UPARR program to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In closing the Mayor expressed, "We have an unique opportunity to move forward as members of both parties have come together on this issue. The nation's mayors stand ready to work with you on crafting legislation to meet local parks and recreation needs."

The other star witness at the hearings was Terrell Davis, the MVP running back of the Denver Broncos. Mr. Davis spoke of his early childhood years learning to play football in a park that was developed with Land and Water Conservation Funds. He urged Congress to provide money for urban parks as they help to provide sports opportunities for young people which in turn provide role models for children. "Putting money into urban parks will allow children to learn the same values I did when I played Pop Warner football in an urban park." stated Mr. Davis in his testimony.

Capitol Rally

Standing on the East steps of the U.S. Capitol surrounded by Members of Congress, mayors, county officials, sports celebrities, and children, Mayor Corradini, led the cheer before a huge throng of people for the need for federal support of local parks and recreation programs. In her remarks, Mayor Corradini stated that "we are here today to celebrate local parks" and that in this "Year of the Youth" that "local parks and recreation programs play a tremendous role in dealing with the issues of youth violence and crime." Mayor Corradini also released the results of a national public opinion poll on the public's attitude towards local parks and federal support of local parks and recreation programs. The poll of 1200 Americans showed 70% favoring the federal government keeping its commitment made over 30 years ago to support local parks programs.

Among the many speakers and their comments were:

New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial - "Every park in every city in every county in every state deserves to be a well kept as the U.S. Capitol grounds. When we support parks, we do it for our children."

Macon Mayor Jim Marshall - "Parks sell across the board for everyone. When you want to get something done attached a parks program to it."

Freeport Mayor William Glacken - "This parks legislation is important for the revitalization of our communities nationwide."

President-elect of NACO C. Vernon Gray - " The infusion of federal funds will help to ensure that we provide opportunities for all of our people."

Denver Broncos MVP Terrell Davis - "Growing up it was important to have a local park to go to. I am here to today to work towards to helping to make sure tha kids today have the same opportunity.

Senator Frank Murkowski (AK) - "We are going to work hard to see that this legislation is passed to help local parks and recreation programs."

Senator Mary Landrieu(LA) - "The federal government needs to be a better and more reliable partner for local parks."

Senator Barbara Boxer(CA) - "We need to fight the budget battle to see that parks funds are included in the federal budget."

Congressman Don Young(AK) - "We are going to work in a bipartisan fashion to support local parks and recreation programs."

Congressman Saxby Chambliss(GA) - "This legislation will be good for children, families, recreationalists and sportsmen."

Congressman George Miller (CA) - " We need to work together to make Congress put the parks money in to help our children."

Congressman Billy Tauzin (LA) - "All cities and counties will share immensely in passing this legislation."

Congressman Chris John (LA) - "The reason this legislation has bipartisan support is because of what parks mean for our young people."

Congressman Mark Udall (CO) - "Local parks programs help our children stay out of trouble."

Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY) - "We need to build our communities around parks."

The rally dispersed with everyone - Members of Congress, mayors, county officials, and parks and recreation advocates - charge up to pass federal legislation to support local parks.

White House Meeting

Following the Capitol Hill rally, the mayors and county officials went to the White House to discuss the Administration's proposals to support local parks. The Administration has proposed its Land Legacy Initiative which would provide a permanent funding source for the state and local assistance program of LWCF and the UPARR program. As part of its proposals the Administration has proposed $ 150 million for the state and local assistance program of LWCF and $4 million for the UPARR program.

Representing the Conference at the meeting was Mayors Corradini and Morial and Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas. Representing the White House was John Podesta, Chief of Staff; George Frampton, Acting Director of the Council on Environmental Quality; John Berry, Assistant Secretary of Interior for Policy, Management and Budget; and Mickey Ibarra, Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.

The mayors commended the Administration on its efforts to join in the debate and the seek permanent funding for local parks programs. Reservations were expressed about the Administration's proposed limited funding of the UPARR program in relationship to some Congressional proposals. At the conclusion of the meeting, John Podesta indicated that he "heard the mayors" and wanted "to work with them" on crafting legislation that meet their needs. .

"Picture Parks"

A number of mayors participated in a national grassroots efforts and sent to their Members of Congress pictures of local parks. Many attached letters asking their Senators and Representatives to pass federal legislation supporting local parks.

Comments from Senate Hearing

"We intend to fight the good fight to pass this legislation." Senator Frank Murkowski (AK)

"Our bill's investment in urban and suburban areas will come back one hundred fold through the opportunities we will provide for our young people." Senator Mary Landrieu (LA)

"I recognize the value of urban parks. I didn't understand the value of city parks until my family move to the city and we started to use these parks." Senator Larry Craig (ID)

" There is great merit to increasing assistance at the state and local levels. Our national parks are not designed to take care of all of our recreational needs." Senator Craig Thomas (WY)

 "We are on the right track in putting more resources into helping young people in the inner cities." Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO)

"I am aware of urban needs and we want to be of help to you, but we don't want to send you a lot of rules and regulations to follow." Senator Conrad Burns (MT)

"I anxiously await an opportunity to be helpful to the inner cities of the United States. Buying land for soccer and football fields is not the end product for helping kids. You also need adult programs, volunteer or otherwise." Senator Pete Domenici (NM)

"We need to give you consistency and predictability in funding local parks programs." Senator Byron Dorgan (ND)