Bill Text: NJ AR185 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges State and local governments to support innovative public spaces.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-06-24 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee [AR185 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR185-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANGEL FUENTES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Urges State and local governments to support innovative public spaces.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging State and local government support for innovative public spaces.
Whereas, Recent innovations in developing public recreational space have yielded creative transformations of vacant or underutilized lots and portions of streets into public parks, plazas, and urban farms in cities across the United States, including San Francisco, New York, Phoenix, Dallas, and Philadelphia; and
Whereas, Some examples of these new and innovative public spaces include: parklets, miniature parks with seating, tables, and planters developed on former parking spaces; a communal farm and garden created on a formerly derelict downtown parcel; and public plaza islands established on a major urban roadway; and
Whereas, These public spaces have contributed to significant increases in pedestrian traffic in the surrounding areas, bolstering local businesses and economic development, reducing crime, and improving the quality of life of the community; and
Whereas, Part of the success of these public spaces has involved an emphasis on community input, which bottom-up approach has helped ensure that the public spaces remain accessible and satisfy the desires, needs, and tastes of the community; and
Whereas, These public spaces are often developed at a low cost through the imaginative reuse of space and materials, simple improvements, and community support, and have been so popular that, in some instances, businesses have taken on the entire cost of developing and maintaining the spaces; and
Whereas, More people, especially young adults and retiring baby boomers, are moving into urban areas, thereby creating greater demand for public space in highly developed areas that have limited space and resources to develop more traditional public spaces; and
Whereas, The new, innovative public spaces provide a low-cost way of satisfying the growing demand for public space in urban areas while helping to revitalize communities by replacing unpleasant and underutilized spaces with attractive and exciting places; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House, and in the public interest, to respectfully urge the State and local governments to develop programs and policies that would allow for and support the creation of these new, innovative public spaces; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges State and local government support for the establishment of innovative public recreational spaces through the creative transformation of vacant or underutilized lots and portions of streets in urban areas into public parks, parklets, plazas, and urban farms to revitalize neighborhoods and for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor, the Secretary of State, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Commissioner of Transportation, and the Executive Director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution would urge State and local government support for the innovative public recreational spaces that have recently been developed in cities throughout the country. These new places include public parks, parklets, plazas, and urban farms that have been developed on former vacant or underutilized lots and portions of streets, replacing unpleasant and underutilized spaces with attractive and exciting places. These new public spaces have led to significant increases in pedestrian traffic in the surrounding areas, bolstering local businesses and economic development, reducing crime, and improving the quality of life of the community. As more and more people are moving to urban areas, the demand for more urban public space will only continue to grow. The development of these new public spaces can provide a cost effective way to satisfy this demand, and to revitalize neighborhoods and local economies. This resolution will promote awareness of these public spaces and encourage their development.
