HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 3393-08-2006~ Res~~u~~~r~
Endorsing and Supporting the Implementation
of a New National Agenda for Urban Parks and Recreation
Np. 3393-08-2046
WHEREAS, there are thousands of urban parks in the nation's communities that help to enrich
the lives of millions of Americans everyday and 235 of those parks serve the 662,000 residents of Fort
Worth; and
WHEREAS, urban parks provide countless social, health and environmental benefits for the
residents of the nation's communities, such as helping to reduce air pollution, protecting communities
from flooding, providing a safe place for children to play and learn, and providing a place for healthy
recreation, physical activity, and family gatherings, usually at no or low cost; and
WHEREAS, urban parks also create enormous economic value by increasing nearby property
values, increasing the local tax base, reducing crime, attracting businesses and helping to create jobs;
and
WHEREAS, manyofthe local park and recreations systems in the nation's communities have
long recognized the important benefits of urban parks and have used their best efforts to make ongoing
investments of local funds to improve their parks; and
WHEREAS, the increased demand for park space and recreational facilities in many of the
nation's communities, together with aging park infrastructure in cities such as Fort Worth, has resulted
in a situation where many local governments and local park and recreation systems have been unable to
keep pace with the tremendous costs of making. the needed repairs, improvements and upgrades to their
local parks; and
WHEREAS, the National Recreation and Park Association has recently estimated that funding
for local parks and recreation is predicted to fall. $38 billion short of meeting basic needs over the next
four years and in Fort Worth there is a current need for infrastntcture estimated at $318 million; and
WHEREAS, despite the clear and important benefits of urban parks to the health and welfare of
the nation's communities, and a demonstrated need fvr more funding, in recent years the federal
government has failed to provide adequate~funding for the nation's urban parks; and
WHEREAS, in May 2006, representatives of the largest urban park and recreation systems in
the United States gathered together in Chicago for an "Urban Parks Summit" to create a new national
agenda for urban parks and recreation, and a new compact among federal, state, and local governments,
along with citizens groups, private foundations and businesses; and
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Resolution No 3393-08-2006
WHEREAS, the new national agenda for urban parks and recreation agenda is premised upon
four gukiing principles and beliefs, as follows:
Urban parks must continue to promote health and wellness;
Urban parks must continue to stimulate community and economic development;
Urban parks mast continue m protect the environment; and
Urban parks must continue to educate, protect and enrich America's young people; and
WHEREAS, the new national urban parks and recreation.agendacahs upon the President ofthe
United States and the U:S. Congress to provide increased federal funding for urban parks in the nation's
communities, in exchange for a commitment from state and local governments to match the federal
funds dollar for-dollar and
WHEREAS, this new urban parks agenda, which is premised upon these four guiding principles
and a renewed commitment by all levels of government to invest in the nation's communities by
investing in parks, will help to protect and ensure the countless value of urban parks for generations to
come;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
That the City of Fort Worth recognizes the invaluable role ofurban parks to the nation's
communities and to the citizens of Fort Worth; and
BE IT FUR'T'HER RESOLVED that City Council hereby endorses the new "National Agenda
for Urban Parks and Recreation" adopted at the Urban Parks Summit in Chicago in May 2006, and
recognizes the critical importance to the nation's communities of abiding by the four guiding principles
for urban parks adopted at that Summit; and
BE IT FUR'T'HER RESOLVED that City will provide legislative support to the National
Recreation and Parks Association, and the U_S, Conference of Mayors in helping to carry out a national
advocacy effort to innplennent the new "National Agenda for Urban Parks and Recreation.
Adopted this 3rd day ofwAugust, 2006.
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By• .
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Mar"ty Hendrix, Ca y~Sscr_etary
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APPROVED
CITY COUNCIL
AUG - 3 2006
City Secretary of the
City of Fort Worth, Texas
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