Community Parks Revitalization Act

The Community Parks Revitalization Act would create two new federal tools administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to improve parks, recreation, and related infrastructure in communities. Title I establishes grants to rehabilitate or build parks and facilities, fund innovative recreation programs, and develop recovery action plans to restore and maintain local park systems. It emphasizes health, economic development, crime prevention, veterans and military families’ recreation, accessibility, and environmental sustainability (including LEED/SITES standards and green infrastructure). Title II creates a financing option: HUD may provide secured loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities for park and recreation infrastructure projects, expanding private investment and leveraging user fees or other dedicated revenue sources. In short, the bill aims to revitalize urban parks through grants and debt financing, tying park investments to health, safety, economic development, and environmental goals. Key features include: local governments (and some non-MSA jurisdictions) could compete for capital grants for construction/rehabilitation, innovation in service delivery, and recovery planning; matching requirements and state incentives are used to widen federal funding; there’s a strong emphasis on coordination with other public programs and community involvement; and a parallel financing program would allow secured loans/loan guarantees to attract private investment in parks and trail projects. The bill also sets reporting, regulation, and oversight provisions and would authorize appropriations for 2026–2035.