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CONSERVATION TRUST FUND
WHEREAS, in 2000, Congress passed a new program titled the Land Conservation,
Preservation, and Infrastructure Improvement Program (commonly referred to as the
Conservation Trust Fund) as a six-year program that gives baseline funding to a variety of urban
conservation and recreation programs, including the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery
Program (UPARR); and
WHEREAS, The Conservation Trust Fund returns more than sixty percent of its funds to states
and local communities; and
WHEREAS, The Conservation Trust Fund encourages and promotes healthy lifestyles, an area
of growing concern in our country, by providing Americans with outdoor places to hike, bike,
swim, fish, and walk; and
WHEREAS, the Conservation Trust Fund promotes smart growth and livable communities
through the development of urban open space and recreation programs that assist thoughtful,
planned growth and also empower municipalities to accomplish these objectives through
partnerships; and
WHEREAS, last year, the program was underfunded and severe cutbacks in local conservation
and recreation programs resulted and without congressional allocations, opportunities for
conservation, outdoor recreation, and historic preservation are limited; and
WHEREAS, the need to preserve urban open spaces, and parks and recreational facilities, and
preserve America's historic treasures becomes more critical each year due to the demands placed
on such facilities by ever increasing populations; and
WHEREAS, for FY 2004, the full and dedicated level for the Conservation Trust Fund is $1.56
billion,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors see, as an
absolutely critical need, the full and dedicated funding level of the Conservation Trust Fund, with
at least $50 million dedicated to the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program.
©2003 U.S. Conference of Mayors |
