Urges Congress to move forward with expedient passage of the Build Back Better Act
Washington, D.C. – After months of negotiations, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which will now head to President Biden’s desk for signature. This legislation will make historic levels of investment in the physical and human infrastructure that provide the lifeblood to our communities.
The IIJA focuses primarily on upgrades to “hard infrastructure” such as the roads, bridges, rails, and transit systems that connect our communities. However, the bill also significantly increases funding for green infrastructure projects through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and includes a program that will invest in trails and make walking and bicycling safer and more equitable for all Americans. In addition, the bill establishes a pilot program that would allow communities to transform highways into parks.
City Parks Alliance strongly supports the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the wide-ranging benefits that they will provide to America’s cities and their residents.
“City Parks Alliance commends Congress and the administration on the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and urges Congress to move forward with expedient passage of the Build Back Better Act. The additional funding sources these two bills provide for parks leverages their multifunctional uses. In addition to improving physical and mental health, parks and greenspaces are also critical to the economic and environmental health of our cities and nation, and are important tools for mitigating the effects of climate change,” states Catherine Nagel, Executive Director of City Parks Alliance.
For more information, please contact Julie Waterman, Advocacy Director at [email protected] or (202) 258-9418.
City Parks Alliance is the only independent, nationwide membership organization solely dedicated to urban parks. The mission of the City Parks Alliance is to engage, educate and nurture a broad-based constituency to support the creation, revitalization, and sustainability of parks and green spaces that contribute to more vibrant and equitable cities. City Parks Alliance leads and serves the community of diverse organizations that encompass the parks and recreation world, from neighborhood groups to government agencies, championing high-quality urban parks throughout the nation. Our vision is that everyone in urban America will have access to the benefits of parks, recreational opportunities, and green spaces.
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