§200502 Federal Assistance

Summary

The Secretary decides which cities and towns can get help under this program based on need. The Secretary must publish a list in the Federal Register saying which local governments are eligible and must explain the rules used. Those rules must focus on signs of rundown parks or recreation systems and on physical or economic hardship. The Secretary can also make other metropolitan-area local governments eligible under the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget. When picking projects, the Secretary must use priority rules. These look at things like population, the condition of parks, lack of nearby recreation (especially for minority and low- and moderate-income people), public input, how the project fits local revitalization plans, job and neighborhood involvement, and state or private funding promises. For at-risk youth grants, priority goes to programs that target the highest-risk youth, teach life skills, add tutoring or counseling, run during late or nonschool hours, work with justice and community groups, bring in other public or private support, and can continue without federal money or be a model. No more than 15% of the money for rehabilitation, innovation, and recovery action grants may go to the additional metropolitan-area governments the Secretary adds.