The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is praising Congress for passing the Minibus Appropriations Bills, citing the legislation as a meaningful step forward for parks, recreation and the communities they serve nationwide.

 
In a statement following the vote, NRPA President and CEO Kristine Stratton highlighted bipartisan support for increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state assistance program, the association's top federal funding priority. "Today is an important day for parks and recreation and the communities we serve," Stratton said, noting that LWCF has supported tens of thousands of state and local park projects over the past six decades.

The legislation also increases funding for the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which supports youth mentoring programs delivered in many communities through park and recreation agencies. Stratton emphasized that these investments strengthen local capacity to deliver high-quality programs and facilities that enhance quality of life.

Stratton credited the outcome to sustained advocacy by park and recreation professionals and supportive lawmakers. "When we invest in parks, we invest in people," she said, calling the passage of the minibus bills a critical step forward for communities across the country.

https://www.nrpa.org/about-national-recreation-and-park-association/press-room/nrpa-statement-on-minibus-appropriations-bills-passage/