Valuing and protecting our city parks on Father’s Day – and every day

This weekend families across America will spend Father’s Day outside with their kids in their local park. What most of them don’t know is that many of these parks exist because of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an essential resource for cities as they seek to develop new or revitalize existing urban parks, green spaces, and recreation opportunities. However, funding for the LWCF is set to expire in 100 days unless it’s reauthorized by Congress. We cannot afford to let this happen. 

The LWCF was created in 1965 to assist in preserving, developing and assuring accessibility of outdoor recreation resources for all Americans. Remarkably, LWCF uses no taxpayer dollars but rather a fraction of the royalties paid by energy companies for drilling offshore oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf. And while Congress is authorized to spend up to $900 million annually for the LWCF, the program is chronically underfunded. In fact, over the 50-year history of the program, LWCF has only been fully funded twice.

{mosads}Our parks, trails, greenways and natural areas – the “green” infrastructure – are as essential to Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City as its cultural, residential and commerce-based cornerstones. They not only boost the health and wellness of our city’s residents, they also create a healthier environment by improving air and water quality. Every weekend, thousands of people are drawn to our cities to hike and bike. Parks pulse with soccer and volleyball games, picnics, cyclists, dog walkers and sledders in the winter. And the natural world comes alive for our children as they explore the outdoors. 

Since its inception, the LWCF has helped to create more than 42,000 state and local projects including parks, playgrounds, urban wildlife refuges, greenways, trails and open space in all 50 states, and more than 98% of the counties in the nation have a park project funded by LWCF.  In Salt Lake City, Sugar House Park, with its sport and event venues, gardens and extensive network of trails would not be part of our city if not for LWCF. Multiple grants through LWCF have supported a renovation of the park and trail connections to nearby Sugar House Business District which have increased biking and pedestrian access, and contributed to over $200 million in new housing, retail and commercial development. 

And it would be hard to imagine how many exuberant Little Leaguers in Oklahoma City crossed home plate at Stars and Stripes Park on the shores of Lake Hefner or hit game-winning shots at the basketball courts at Schilling Park. Both benefitted from LCWF grants. Over the years, Oklahoma City has received more than $4 million in LWCF grants. Urban parks enhance a community’s quality of life, nudge residents toward healthier and more active lifestyles, serve as a catalyst for revitalizing neighborhoods and function as an economic development tool. There are few investments a city can make with a better return than an urban park. 

We are proud to be members of the bi-partisan coalition Mayors for Parks, which supports reauthorizing and fully funding LWCF at $900 million annually. The coalition, managed by the City Parks Alliance, includes mayors from around the country who realize and depend on the tremendous value that LWCF provides to their cities. Mayors know that investments in community parks help grow local economies by creating jobs, increasing property values, and attracting the kinds of businesses, workforces, and private capital that make metropolitan areas economically competitive in today’s global economy. I, Mayor Becker, also have the privilege of serving as president of the National League of Cities which represents more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns across the United States. And, I, Mayor Cornett, have the privilege of serving as vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Earlier this year, members of the coalition stood alongside Interior Secretary Sally Jewell at an event in Washington, DC, where we discussed the valuable role LWCF has played in making our cities desirable places to live, work and play. 

Today, 85 percent of us live in metropolitan areas, but city dwelling must not be allowed to cut us and our children off from the wonders of nature, and the comfort and refreshment that even a few hours outdoors can bring into our hectic urban lives. Our nation’s investment in LWCF is an essential tool for our cities and cities across the country to make our communities economically, environmentally and culturally vibrant, and most importantly, ensure healthy and livable cities for everyone to enjoy.

As we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, we will be thinking not only of the value of our urban parks, but also the LWCF funding deadline that looms large on the horizon. We urge Congress to reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund before it sunsets this September – the quality of life of our cities and their residents depend on it.

Becker has been mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah since 2004. Cornett has been mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma since 2008. They are members of the bi-partisan Mayors for Parks Coalition.