99-33559. Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72675-72676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33559]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of FY 2000 Grant Round--UPARR Rehabilitation Grants

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of grant funds under 
the Rehabilitation phase of the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery 
(UPARR) Program and provides information on the application process 
including eligible recipients and deadlines for submission of 
proposals.

DATES: NPS will accept preapplications on or before March 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for NPS addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Ross, Assistant Director, 
Recreation and Conservation, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 1849 ``C'' Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240; (202) 565-
1200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For Fiscal Year 2000, Congress has 
appropriated $2,000,000 for the funding of projects under the Urban 
Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-625). By law, 
grants made for projects in any one State are not to exceed 15 percent 
of the funds appropriated. As a result NPS will consider proposals from 
eligible local jurisdictions for funding projects with a dollar limit 
equal to or less than the State limitation of $300,000 (Federal share 
of total project cost) under the Rehabilitation phase of the program. 
Preapplications must be received by the appropriate NPS field office by 
no later than March 31, 2000.
    Rehabilitation grants will be targeted to rehabilitate existing 
neighborhood recreation areas and facilities which have deteriorated to 
the point where health and safety are endangered or the community's 
range of quality recreation service is impaired. Proposals must be 
designed to provide recreation services within a specified area 
identified by the applicant. Proposals may identify improvements at 
multiple sites or facilities, each of which must be individually 
addressed. Grants may be used to remodel, rebuild, or develop existing 
outdoor or indoor recreation areas and facilities.
    Eligible Jurisdictions: Eligible urban jurisdictions as listed in 
36 CFR part 72, appendix B and which have an approved Recovery Action 
Program (RAP) on file with and approved by NPS within the last five 
years will be eligible to compete for Rehabilitation grant funds. If a 
jurisdiction's RAP plan expired since the last Congressional 
appropriation for the UPARR program (FY 1995), the highest elected 
official of that jurisdiction may submit either (1) A new or updated 
RAP for NPS review

[[Page 72676]]

and approval, or (2) A letter of recertification. A letter of 
recertification (for a RAP which has expired since FY 1995) must state 
that no significant changes have occurred in its assessment and action 
plan, and that the RAP remains current as a guide to community action 
and decision-making. NPS may accept a recertification for a period up 
to two years after which a new RAP is required. Additional urban 
jurisdictions meeting the criteria described in 36 CFR part 72, 
appendix A, and having been approved as discretionary applicants by 
NPS, may also compete. All projects must be in accord with the 
priorities outlined in the approved RAPs.
    Grant Implementation and Timing: Grantees must comply with all 
applicable Federal laws and regulations for the UPARR program, which 
includes completion of a final grant agreement within 120 days of a 
grant offer (based on NPS evaluation of preapplications submitted for 
consideration).
    Preapplication Requirements: Local Chief Executives applying for 
UPARR grants will be required to certify, in the preapplication, that 
the grantee will comply with all requirements of the UPARR program. 
Applicants must certify that they have adequate control and tenure over 
properties to be assisted through UPARR and must identify in their 
applications the type of control they have over those properties. 
Additional requirements are outlined in the ``UPARR Preapplication 
Handbook'' available from the NPS field offices (or on the internet at 
http://www.ncrc.nps.gov/uparr).
    Matching Requirements: UPARR Rehabilitation grants are awarded on a 
70/30 (Federal/local) matching basis. As an incentive for state 
involvement in the program, the Federal Government will match, dollar 
for dollar, state contributions to the local share of the total project 
cost, up to 15 percent of the approved grant. The Federal share is 
limited to no more than 85 percent of the approved grant cost and the 
overall dollar limitations established above for Rehabilitation grants.
    Pass-Through Funding: At the discretion of the applicant 
jurisdiction, grants may be transferred, in whole or in part, to 
independent general or special purpose local governments, private 
nonprofit agencies or community groups, and county or regional park 
authorities that provide recreation opportunities to the general 
population within the jurisdictional boundaries of the applicant 
jurisdiction. In such situations, the applicant jurisdiction will bear 
full legal responsibility and liability for passed-through funds.
    Post-Completion Requirements: In accordance with Section 1010 of 
the UPARR Act of 1978, assisted properties may not be converted to 
other than public recreation use without the prior approval of NPS and 
the replacement of the converted site or facility with one of 
reasonably equivalent usefulness and location.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Interested jurisdictions should consult their 
NPS field office for further information including grant round schedule 
and for technical assistance in applying for funding. The NPS field 
offices are listed below:

Northeast (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV)

Stewardship and Partnerships Team, Philadelphia Support Office, 
National Park Service, 200 Chestnut Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 
19106, Tele: [phone]

Southeast (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VI)

Recreation Programs, Southeast Regional Office, National Park Service, 
Atlanta Federal Center, 1924 Building, 100 Alabama Street, S.W., 
Atlanta, GA 30303, Tele: [phone]

Midwest (AR, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, OH, 
OK, SD, TX, UT, WI, WY)

Partnerships--Grants, Midwest Regional Office, National Park Service, 
1709 Jackson Street, Omaha, NE 68102-2571, Tele: [phone]

Pacific West (AS, CA, CM, GU, HI, NV)

Planning and Partnerships Team, Pacific Great Basin Support Office, 
National Park Service, Suite 600, 600 Harrison Street, San Francisco, 
CA 94107-1372, Tele: [phone],

(AK, ID, OR, WA)

Partnerships Programs, Columbia Cascades Support Office, National Park 
Service, 909 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-1060, Tele: [phone]

    Dated: December 21, 1999.
D. Thomas Ross,
Assistant Director, Recreation and Conservation.
[FR Doc. 99-33559 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P