,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #daig ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #bj1 #bjai,mrs4 ,carolyn ,b4 ,maloney of ,new ,york introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,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 areas4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,revitalizing ,cities ,through ,parks ,enhancement ,act4 #b4 ,congressional findings ,the ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 open spaces and community parks are a critically important portion of urban infrastructure2 7#b7 many inner-city areas suffer from a lack of public open space for community residents to use for recreation1 social interaction1 and relief from dense urban conditions2 7#c7 vacant lots1 many in public ownership as a result of tax foreclosures1 are common in inner-city areas2 7#d7 the recent economic recession substantially increased the number of such vacant lots2 7#e7 such lots often become drug trafficking areas1 thereby decreasing the value of surrounding property and leading to higher crime rates in inner-city areas2 and 7#f7 the refurbishment of such lots1 by removing garbage and rubble and creating well-lighted and maintained open spaces and community parks1 would establish positive assets for surrounding communities1 provide positive outlets for community youth1 increase property values1 make other types of investment in the communities more attractive1 and generally improve the quality of life for residents of the affected communities4 #c4 ,authority to make grants 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall1 to the extent amounts are provided in appropriation ,acts pursuant to section #ac1 make grants under this ,act to qualified community organizations for establishment of community open space in urban areas4 7b7 ,amount ,the aggregate amount of any grants made under this ,act to any single qualified community organization in any single fiscal year may not exceed #bej1jjj4 #d4 ,qualified community organizations ,a grant under this ,act may be made only to a nonprofit organization that-- 7#a7 has among its purposes significant activities related to the improvement of the neighborhood1 community1 or city in which any property that is to be assisted with the grant under this ,act is located2 7#b7 has a history of serving such neighborhood1 community1 or city2 7#c7 maintains1 through significant representation on the organization's governing board and otherwise1 accountability to residents of such neighborhood1 community1 or city2 and 7#d7 complies with such standards of financial accountability as the ,secretary may require4 #e4 ,use of grant amounts 7a7 ,eligible activities ,amounts from a grant made under this ,act may be used by the recipient of the grant only for costs relating to the establishment of community open space1 as follows3 7#a7 ,to develop eligible municipal real property for use as community open space1 which shall include design1 clearance1 demolition1 removal1 beautification1 site improvements1 and construction or installation of facilities and improvements for such property4 7#b7 ,to lease or otherwise obtain the use of eligible municipal real property for establishment of community open space4 7#c7 ,to maintain community open space4 7#d7 ,to cover other administrative costs related to the establishment1 development1 maintenance1 administration1 insurance1 or management of the community open space1 except that not more than #aj percent of any single grant made under this ,act may be used for costs under this paragraph4 7b7 ,development plan requirement ,amounts from a grant made under this ,act may be used by the recipient of a grant only to carry out activities under subsection 7a7 that are described in the development plan of the recipient approved by the ,secretary under section #g or that are described in an amendment to the development plan approved by the ,secretary under section #i4 7c7 ,community involvement requirements ,a qualified community organization that applies for a grant under this ,act shall provide for involvement by interested residents and organizations of the neighborhood1 community1 or city in which the property to be assisted under the plan is located in-- 7#a7 establishing the development plan under section #g7;b71 which shall include-- 7,a7 making the proposed development plan available in a manner that1 in the determination of the ,secretary1 provides interested parties a reasonable opportunity to examine its content and to submit comments on the proposed plan2 and 7,b7 holding one or more public hearings to obtain the views of interested parties regarding the proposed plan2 and 7#b7 carrying out activities under the development plan1 if the qualified community organization is a recipient4 #f4 ,eligible municipal real property ,amounts from a grant under this ,act may be used for costs under section #e7;a7 relating to the establishment of community open space only on real property that-- 7#a7 is owned in fee simple by the unit of general local government in which the property is located2 7#b7 is located in an urban area2 7#c7 is free of structures1 other than toilet or maintenance facilities for the community open space2 and 7#d7 is subject to a binding commitment1 entered into by the unit of general local government that owns the property and the eligible community organization receiving the grant1 that makes the property available for use and improvement under this ,act as community open space for a period of not less than #g years4 #g4 ,application and development plan 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide for nonprofit organizations to submit applications to the ,secretary for grants under this ,act in such form and manner as the ,secretary may require to carry out the purposes of this ,act4 7b7 ,development plan ,the ,secretary shall require each application to include a detailed plan for the use of any amounts received from a grant under this ,act1 which shall include-- 7#a7 a description of any eligible municipal property that is to be established as community open space using such grant amounts2 7#b7 evidence of the ownership of the eligible municipal property and the binding commitment required under section #f7d7 for the property2 7#c7 a description of the nonprofit organization applying for the grant that is sufficient to allow the ,secretary to determine whether such organization is a qualified community organization2 7#d7 a description of the activities under section #e7;a7 to be conducted with amounts from the grant2 7#e7 evidence of any commitments to make assistance 7other than assistance under this ,act7 available for use in developing or maintaining the community open space2 7#f7 a description of the need for community open space in the neighborhood or community in which the eligible municipal property is located2 7#g7 a description of how the nonprofit organization will provide for the maintenance of the community open space2 7#h7 a description of the community participation involved 7pursuant to section #e7;c77 in establishing the plan1 and the provisions made 7pursuant to such section7 for community participation in developing1 maintaining1 administering1 and managing the community open space2 7#i7 a budget specifying all of the estimated costs relating to the project to establish and maintain the community open space2 and 7#aj7 any other information the ,secretary considers appropriate to carry out this ,act4 #h4 ,selection and grant agreements 7a7 ,selection ,from among the applications submitted under section #g1 the ,secretary shall select qualified community organizations to receive grants under this ,act pursuant to a competitive selection process4 ,the ,secretary shall review all applications received and may select only applications containing development plans that the ,secretary approves as feasible and cost-effective pursuant to the competitive selection process4 7b7 ,selection criteria ,the competitive selection process referred to in subsection 7a7 shall be based upon selection criteria1 which shall include-- 7#a7 the extent of community involvement in the establishment1 development1 maintenance1 administration1 or management of the community open space2 7#b7 the extent of need for community open space in the neighborhood or community in which the eligible municipal property is located2 7#c7 the extent to which the development plan for the community open space limits administrative and management costs relating to the community open space2 and 7#d7 the extent to which commitments have been made providing assistance 7other than assistance under this ,act7 for use in establishing1 developing1 maintaining1 administering1 or managing the community open space4 7c7 ,grant agreements ,the ,secretary shall enter into agreements with each qualified community organization selected to receive a grant under this section as the ,secretary considers necessary to ensure that amounts provided under the grant are used in accordance with the requirements of this ,act to carry out the development plan approved under section #g and any amendments to such plan approved under section #i4 #i4 ,amendments to development plans ,the ,secretary shall provide for recipients to submit amendments to development plans to the ,secretary and for the ,secretary to review1 and approve or disapprove1 such amendments4 #aj4 ,reports 7a7 ,recipients ,the ,secretary may require each recipient to submit to the ,secretary such reports as the ,secretary considers appropriate to determine whether the recipient is carrying out the development plan for any community open space for which the grant was made and is complying with the provisions of this ,act and any agreements entered into under section #h7;c74 7b7 ,secretary ,the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,congress not less than annually describing the grants made under this ,act1 the recipients of the grants1 and the community open space provided with such grant amounts4 #aa4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act1 the following definitions shall apply3 7#a7 ,community open space ,the term community open space means a parcel of real property that is used for open space1 park1 playground1 garden1 or other recreational or other similar purposes and is generally open to and available for use by the public4 7#b7 ,nonprofit organization ,the term nonprofit organization means a private organization that-- 7,a7 is organized under ,state or local laws2 and 7,b7 has no part of its net earnings inuring to the benefit of any member1 shareholder1 founder1 contributor1 or individual4 7#c7 ,qualified community organization ,the term qualified community organization means a nonprofit organization that complies with the requirements under section #d to be eligible to receive a grant under this ,act4 7#d7 ,recipient ,the term recipient means a qualified community organization that receives a grant under this ,act4 7#e7 ,urban area ,the term urban area means-- 7,a7 a city within a standard metropolitan statistical area 7as established by the ,office of ,management and ,budget7 which is the central city of such area 7as defined and used by such ,office72 or 7,b7 a city within such a standard metropolitan statistical area which has a population of #ej1jjj or more4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7#g7 ,unit of general local government ,the term unit of general local government means any city1 town1 township1 county1 parish1 village1 or other general purpose political subdivision of a ,state4 7#h7 ,state ,the term ,state means the ,states of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 ,guam1 the ,virgin ,islands1 ,american ,samoa1 and any other territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 #ab4 ,regulations ,the ,secretary shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this ,act4 #ac4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for grants under this ,act #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba and #bjbb4