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Norton Highlights Robust Support in the House and Senate for Restoring Neighborhood Parks

May 16, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the following statement on the bipartisan Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act (H.R. 1225), which would address the deferred maintenance backlog in the National Park Service (NPS) and would substantially impact the District of Columbia and the National Capital Region. NPS owns most neighborhood parks in the District. The bill has 208 House cosponsors. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, the National Mall and Memorial Parks in the District have the greatest deferred maintenance costs in the National Park System, totaling more than $840 million, nearly 1/6th of all deferred maintenance.

"The Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act would have a particularly beneficial effect on our community parks right here in D.C. and the National Capital Region," Norton said. "In total, nearly 1/6th of the entire National Park Service maintenance backlog is within our region, which demonstrates a need to quickly address this growing buildup. Following my bill, signed into law, that clarified that the District of Columbia and NPS can enter into cooperative management agreements, this bipartisan Act will address the backlog and greatly benefit community parks in D.C. that residents enjoy every day in their neighborhoods."