SAN FRANCISCO – Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited the San Francisco Bay Area today to discuss how President Biden's investment policy and historic funding from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program will improve our nation's lands and waters. He emphasized how helpful it was for his recovery. It also improves equitable access to the outdoors while promoting locally-led landscape-scale restoration projects.
Secretary Haaland visited the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which is receiving $2 million from President Biden's Investing in America Plan to improve recreational opportunities for communities along San Francisco Bay. The preserve will work with partners such as tribes and local youth advocacy groups to identify trails most at risk from climate change and ensure they remain regional assets in the face of rising sea levels. I guarantee you that. The initiative will connect traditionally underserved local communities by ensuring connectivity along the 500-mile Bay Trail system, a critical transportation network for non-motorized transportation in dense urban centers. It will benefit not only underserved communities, but the entire Bay Area. In addition, the service received $4.69 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which was established to build on the President's commitment to expand the refuge and secure additional land for public access.
In February 2024, the Department announced $157 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to support 206 ecosystem restoration projects in 48 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories, with several restoration and will advance the department's ongoing work across recovery programs. Through President Biden's Invest in America Policy, the Department is administering a total of $2 billion over five years in new investments to engage Americans in restoring our lands and waters. To guide these historic investments, the Department announced in April 2023 his Restoration and Resilience Framework to facilitate coordination and drive transformational outcomes across existing programs and initiatives. Did.
Secretary Haaland also announced $58.3 million in grants to communities in 11 states, including San Francisco, to create new parks and trails or fund major renovations to existing parks through the ORLP program. He announced that he would provide money.
Founded in 2014 and funded through LWCF, the ORLP program helps urban communities create new outdoor recreation spaces, revitalize existing parks, and connect people and the outdoors in economically underserved communities. Allows you to form connections with. The City of San Francisco has received more than $8 million to revitalize park parcels that will provide the public with a variety of outdoor recreational facilities.
Earlier this year, the department launched a tour to hear directly from local stakeholders about the need to connect communities with outdoor access and encourage participation in the state's ORLP program. The program is President Biden's initiative for locally-led, voluntary conservation and restoration efforts aimed at addressing the nature and climate crises, improving equitable access to the outdoors, and strengthening the economy. This will help promote the “America the Beautiful” initiative. Providing safe outdoor space to communities lacking parks is one of his six focus areas. The ORLP program also helps advance the administration's Justice 40 initiative, which aims to channel 40 percent of federal funding benefits to disadvantaged communities.
Since its founding in 1965, LWCF has funded $5.2 billion to support more than 45,000 projects in every county in the country. LWCF supports increased public access to and protection of federal public lands and waters, including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and recreation areas, and provides support for the acquisition and development of public parks and other outdoor recreation areas. We provide matching grants to state governments.
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Round 5 Selection Project
California
City of Reading – $3,500,000
Rethinking South City Park
The City of Redding, California features playgrounds and spray fountains, entry and activity plazas, flexible green space, pickleball courts, skating plazas, basketball courts, lounge areas, climbing facilities, walking loops, updated lighting and landscaping, and dog areas. , improvements to existing restrooms, baseball fields, and bocce ball courts.
City and County of San Francisco – $8,124,800
Buchanan Street Mall renovations
The City of San Francisco, California, will renovate three of the five park blocks that make up Buchanan Street Mall. Renovations of his two other blocks were supported by his previous ORLP grant. The three blocks feature a number of amenities including a performance stage and seating area, picnic and barbecue areas, multiple play areas, adult and senior exercise areas, a multi-sport half court, lighting, landscaping and an information kiosk. .
California Department of Parks and Recreation – $659,640
Tozer Park Construction Subsidy
The California Department of Parks and Recreation is planning a new playground at Tozer Park in Madera, Calif., with active and passive recreation opportunities, including a new playground with equipment, picnic shelters with seating and grills, landscaping and irrigation, and park trails/tracks. The funds will be used to develop. , exercise equipment, half courts or multipurpose courts for adults and children, miniature soccer/multipurpose fields, and tennis/pickleball courts.
connecticut
City of Bridgeport – $1,062,454
The Sliver by the River Development Project, Phase 1
The City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, will use the funds for the first phase of the Sliver by the River redevelopment project. Kayak launch, floating dock, natural play area, shade pavilion, multi-use open lawn, terraced lawn with seating, benches, trees and native plants to cool the air and reduce the urban heat island. It is characterized by its cultivation.
Indiana
South Bend Venue Parks and Arts – $7,500,000
Kennedy Park Restoration Project
South Bend Venue Parks and Arts is expanding South Bend, Indiana by introducing outdoor aquatic facilities, picnic pavilions, walking trails, educational natural landscaping, playgrounds, athletic fields/courts, and improved access to the surrounding area. will breathe new life into Kennedy Park. .
kentucky
Waterfront Development Corporation – $10,000,000
Waterfront Park Phase IV
The Waterfront Development Corporation will complete Phase IV of its Waterfront Park project along the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky. The Fund will help transform long-neglected areas by providing green space and recreational amenities such as viewing piers, plazas, green spaces, trees, and riverbank stabilization.
michigan
City of Detroit – $1,300,000
Uniting and Strengthening Patton Park
The City of Detroit, Michigan will use an ORLP grant to build new entry plazas, improve existing playgrounds, add new playgrounds, enhance picnic areas, and redesign portions of parks to reduce heat island effect. and other major improvements to Patton Park. Access to the park will also be improved.
new jersey
City of Paterson – $4.9 million
The City of Paterson, N.J., will restore tennis and basketball courts, public restrooms, and install a multipurpose athletic facility and a wide range of new spaces to gather, play, relax, and enjoy nature, including a new boat launch. As a result, Westside Park will be remodeled. and an expanded passing system.
new york
New York City – $6 million
Revitalizing Spring Creek Park
New York City Parks plans to create and renovate multiple access points to Spring Creek Park North on the Brooklyn-Queens border. The plan includes over 4,500 feet of trails, lighting, benches, and signage to ensure a safe and comfortable environment.
north carolina
City of Raleigh – $845,258
Walnut Creek Park – Bailey Gateway Project
The City of Raleigh, North Carolina, will use grant funding to build the Bailey Drive Gateway at Walnut Creek Wetland Park. This project will reclaim vacant land and grassy areas on the south side of the park that are currently underutilized and do not provide recreational benefits to the local community. This improved site will provide residents direct and safe pedestrian access to existing public amenities on the north side of Walnut Creek.
pennsylvania
City of Bethlehem – $747,966
Friendship Park Rehabilitation
The City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, will be adding a central public lawn, a new main entrance and two additional entrances, a fountain splash plaza, upgrades to the existing playground, shade structures and picnic areas, a new basketball court, and a pathway system.
south carolina
City of Florence – $8,927,097
Renovation of Levy Park
The city of Florence, South Carolina, will redevelop aging Levy Park. Planned physical and facility improvements include complete renovation/reconfiguration of existing fields and courts, development of multi-use walkways, baseball fields, playgrounds, fitness facilities, landscaping, and parking.
texas
City of Laredo – $3,799,966
Zacate Creek Green Corridor Project
The City of Laredo, Texas, will develop the 22-acre Zacate Creek Green Corridor. Proposed elements include new hiking/biking trails, shared paths, new trailhead entrances, designated parking, an outdoor visitor center with restrooms and bike and kayak rental stations, new and restored pedestrian bridges, and an amphitheater. restoration, benches, fountains, tables, bicycle repair stations, community gardens, landscaping, embankment stabilization.
Virginia
City of Richmond – $1,000,000
Broad Rock Creek Park Project
The City of Richmond, Virginia, is funding the creation of a natural park at Broad Rock Creek by repairing bridges, developing trails, building roads, restrooms, and adding park amenities such as wayfinding, kiosks, benches, fountains, and trash cans. We plan to utilize the .
Applications for the next round of funding are currently being accepted on Grants.gov through April 30, 2024.
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