By Tom McClimon
April 28, 2003

Over 110 Members of Congress have signed on to a "Dear Colleague" letter to the Interior Appropriations Committee asking them to restore funding for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR) in the FY 2004 budget. A number of mayors had contacted their Representatives asking them to be co'signers to the letter.

Last year the House Appropriations Committee included $30 million for the UPARR program in its FY 2003 budget. However, neither the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill nor the President's FY 2004 budget includes funding for the UPARR grants.

Since 1979, more than 400 local jurisdictions in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have received almost $260 million in grants. Funds have been used to restore playgrounds and recreation centers, exercise trails and neighborhood parks.