Barbara Tulipane, CAE, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) issued the following statement in response to the FY17 government spending bill:

“The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is pleased that Congress has completed action and approved the FY17 spending bill — securing funding for federal programs our members and agencies rely on for support, such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state assistance program.

Now that work on the FY17 budget is completed, NRPA urges Congress to immediately turn its attention to the FY18 budget and work to pass it “on time” without major delays. We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to ensure critical park and recreation priorities, like LWCF and CDBG, are preserved and protected with adequate funding. Ensuring the FY18 budget includes continued funding for environmental and community programs is essential. Funding that supports the preservation of our public lands and other related conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives is also important.

We encourage our members and advocates to contact their members of Congress and ask for their support in making sure funding for these vital programs is included in FY18.”

About The National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of nearly 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.