Posted: March 16th, 2006

The failure of the negotiations over the infrastructure bond in Sacramento is bad for urban parks, for revitalizing communities, and for the children of California, but the struggle is not over. We can and will continue to build diverse alliances to fight for urban park funds to be distributed fairly among all communities.

The Senate infrastructure package that was being negotiated as of March 15, 2006, included about $2 billion for urban park type projects, and $2 billion for wilderness park type projects. We urge the Governor and legislative leadership to put together a similar package for the November 2006 ballot.

Statewide environmental groups have also put together a $5.388 billion water bond for the November 2006 ballot that would provide funds that can be used for urban parks, including about $490 million directly for urban park type projects, and another $600 million that can include urban park projects including the greening of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. The California Department of Parks and Recreation must prioritize a fair share of its $400 million for urban parks. Another $800 million for flood control purposes can be used for urban park projects. The Sepulveda basin, for example, is a park and flood control basin.

State and local school bond funds can also be used for the shared use of schools and parks. Schools must be built with playing fields open after school and on weekends. The same children need schools and parks for places to play and engage in physical activity to improve their health and reduce obesity and diabetes. Fully 87% of the children in public schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District are not physically fit. The same taxpayers pay for schools and parks.

People of color were instrumental in passing Prop 40 in 2002, which included funding for urban parks. They will make a difference again in November 2006. Prop 40 passed with the support of 77% of Black voters, 74% of Latino voters, 60% of Asian voters, and 56% of non-Hispanic White voters. Seventy-five percent of voters with an annual family income below $20,000, and 61% with a high school diploma or less, supported Prop 40 – the highest among any income or education levels. Traditional environmentalists need to work with diverse communities to pass resource bonds for the good of all the people.

The Center for Law in the Public Interest will continue to fight (1) for significant funding for urban parks resulting from any resource or infrastructure bonds as part of a comprehensive plan to promote economic, environmental, and equitable development for all, and (2) to make sure that underserved communities receive their fair share of public benefits.

Check the Center’s web site and blog regularly for new developments concerning healthy parks, schools, and communities.