Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined state and local legislators and community members recently to celebrate the signing of the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008.
The politicians mingled with local community youth at Taylor Yards Rio de Los Angeles State Park.
AB 31, introduced in the state Legislature by Assistant Majority Leader Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, will prioritize $400 million of Proposition 84 park funds for underserved and park-poor communities throughout California.
This is the largest single investment in local parks in the nation’s history.
“For too long poor minority communities have been marginalized when it comes to parks and that needs to end. We are in the midst of a national obesity crisis. Children living in poor, park-starved communities in urban, suburban and rural areas deserve safe, open spaces to play in and enjoy. ... Together we will create jobs and critical park space in poor communities across the state.”
-- Kevin de Leon, Assistant Assembly Majority Leader (D-Los Angeles)
In 2006, California voters approved Proposition 84, which included an appropriation of $400 million dollars for park funds for underserved communities. After the passage of AB 31, communities in highest need of park funds throughout California will receive priority. These communities are those that suffer from higher rates of crime, unemployment, poverty, school dropouts, and health ailments such as obesity and asthma.
Many cities across the United States suffer from limited park access; California’s park deficiencies are stark in comparison to them. Based on acres per person, Los Angeles (11.8 acres) has about a third of the park space of New York City (37.3 acres). Moreover, cities such as Chicago (18.7 acres), Boston (18 acres), and Philadelphia (17.1 acres) all have more in park-space acreage per person than Los Angeles.
These disparities are even more prevalent in lower-income and ethnic neighborhoods. Studies show that predominantly white Los Angeles neighborhoods have 31.8 acres of park space for every 1,000 people, compared with 1.7 acres in African-American neighborhoods, 0.6 acres in Latino neighborhoods, and 0.3 acres in Asian-Pacific Islander neighborhoods.
Health studies show that providing people with green space and places to play has broad cumulative impacts. Simply stated, creating parks improves poor communities and changes children's lives.
AB 31 was supported by over 80 organizations and local governments cross California, including the Latino Issues Forum, City of Lynwood, Los Angeles Conservation Corps and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Also present at the celebration was Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, in recognition of passage of AB 2494 Housing-Parks Program, which will implement $200 million in Proposition IC for housing-related parks.
AB 2494 seeks to reward park-deficient communities that are stepping up and providing the affordable housing that California so desperately needs.
Communities will receive funds they need to expand access to parks and will also be rewarded for taking seriously their obligation to provide housing for all economic segments of the community.
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