Press Releases

VIDEO: Hickenlooper Urges Support for His Bill to Build Parks & Create Equitable Access to Outdoors

Dec 2, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper urged support for his Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act during a hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The legislation would create a new, one-time $500 million federal grant program to help state and local governments build new parks and greenspaces to increase access to the outdoors in underserved communities. 

For high-quality video of the hearing, click HERE

“One out of three Americans, which includes 28 million kids, don’t have access within half a mile to a greenspace,” said Hickenlooper. “They’re denied that opportunity of getting a different type of renewable energy – the energy that people bring back when they’ve been out exercising or recreating in a greenspace.”

The House-passed Build Back Better plan includes $100 million for local parks modeled after Hickenlooper’s Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act. 

Background:

  • The Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act would establish a one-time $500 million federal grant program administered by state and local governments, in order to ensure park investments happen quickly and respond to local priorities. 
  • All cities with a population of over 30,000 would be eligible without having to match funds received, allowing even the hardest hit cities and towns suffering from declining revenues to invest in new parks. 

###

Recent Press Releases

Hickenlooper, Bennet Welcome President Biden to Colorado

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet released the following statement welcoming President Joe Biden to Colorado before he delivers the commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs: “We are pleased...

read more