Investments In Environmental And Social Equity, Enhancing California’s Disadvantaged Communities - - CA Public Resources

Section § 80050

This law sets aside $725 million for creating and expanding parks in neighborhoods that don't have many parks. The money is given out through a competitive grant program and must be approved by the Legislature. When deciding who gets the money, projects that help capture and store stormwater or reduce pollution may be favored.

The department responsible for managing these grants must carefully check if an applicant has the financial and operational ability to carry out the project. They need to ensure the project offers maximum public benefits and is completed on time.

(a) The sum of seven hundred twenty-five million dollars ($725,000,000) shall be available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the creation and expansion of safe neighborhood parks in park-poor neighborhoods in accordance with the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008’s competitive grant program described in Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 5640) of Division 5.

(b) When developing or revising criteria or guidelines for the grant program, the department may give additional consideration to projects that incorporate stormwater capture and storage or otherwise reduce stormwater pollution.

(c) The department shall perform its due diligence by conducting a rigorous prequalification process to determine the fiscal and operational capacity of a potential grant recipient to manage a project to do both of the following:

(1) Maximize the project’s public benefit.

(2) Implement the project in a timely manner.

safe neighborhood parks park-poor neighborhoods Statewide Park Development Community Revitalization Act competitive grant program stormwater capture stormwater pollution reduction prequalification process fiscal capacity operational capacity project management public benefit timely implementation park funding legislature appropriation

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 852, Sec. 3. Approved in Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, election.)

Section § 80051

This law mandates that at least 20% of a specified budget must be used to rehabilitate, repurpose, or significantly improve existing park infrastructure. The goal is to boost usage and enhance the experience for park-goers in communities across the state.

Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 80050, not less than 20 percent shall be available for the rehabilitation, repurposing, or substantial improvement of existing park infrastructure in communities of the state that will lead to increased use and enhanced user experiences.

park infrastructure rehabilitation repurposing improvement community parks user experience increased use park facilities state funding infrastructure enhancement recreational development park upgrades community enhancement budget allocation park usage

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 852, Sec. 3. Approved in Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, election.)

Section § 80052

This section outlines funding allocations for improving local parks and creating new ones in specific communities throughout California that have historically been underfunded in these areas. A total of $48 million is made available for grants to create or improve parks in the central valley, Inland Empire, gateway, rural, and desert communities, targeting youth health, fitness, and recreational projects. Projects that involve donations or collaboration between different groups may receive special consideration.

Additionally, $22 million is reserved for grants to desert towns in San Bernardino County that were incorporated after 1990 and have populations under 22,000. These towns must have a master plan for developing public facilities, like aquatic and fitness centers, to receive funding.

(a) Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 80050, to correct historic underinvestments in the central valley, Inland Empire, gateway, rural, and desert communities, the sum of forty-eight million dollars ($48,000,000) shall be available for local park creation and improvement grants to the communities identified by the department as park deficient within those areas for active recreational projects, including aquatic centers, to encourage youth health, fitness, and recreational pursuits. Projects that include the partial or full donation of land, materials, or volunteer services and that demonstrate collaborations of multiple entities and the leveraging of scarce resources may be given consideration. Entities that receive a grant under this section may also be eligible to receive other grants under subdivision (a) of Section 80050.

(b) Of the amount subject to this section, twenty-two million dollars ($22,000,000) shall be available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for grants to desert community towns in the County of San Bernardino, incorporated after 1990, with a population estimate of less than 22,000 according to the United States Census Bureau Population Estimates as of July 1, 2016, that have adopted a master plan as of 2008 that includes recommendations for the development of public facilities that will assist in achieving active recreational projects, including aquatic and fitness centers.

local park creation underfunded communities Inland Empire central valley rural parks desert communities youth recreational projects aquatic centers volunteer services San Bernardino desert towns master plan public facilities fitness centers population estimate grant eligibility requirements historic underinvestment

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 852, Sec. 3. Approved in Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, election.)