The Legislature hereby finds and declares as follows:

(a) The program created by this chapter will finance the acquisition and development of parks and recreation areas and facilities in the communities that are currently least served by park and recreation facilities by emphasizing the creation of park space and recreational opportunities and the expansion of park accessibility to underserved communities. These underserved communities are often the same areas that suffer most from high unemployment and destructive or unlawful conduct by youth.

(b) The program established by this chapter will encourage community participation in, and a greater sense of responsibility toward, new parks and recreation areas and facilities, which will help keep them clean and safe and which will enhance community pride and sustain neighborhood vitality.

(c) New parks and facilities will provide safe recreational opportunities for children, positive outlets, and secure sites for youth, while also meeting the special recreational and social needs of senior citizens and other population groups.

(d) California suffers from an acute shortage of parks throughout the state, particularly in poor communities.

(e) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that the funds made available through the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008 be used to award competitive grants statewide to advance certain goals and policies, including, but not limited to, assisting in the acquisition of park space or the development of park and recreation opportunities to critically underserved communities. It is further the intent of the Legislature that this be accomplished by delivering project funds to neighborhood and regional park projects in areas of highest need, while offering technical assistance to all applicants and potential applicants for grant preparation to encourage full participation in the grant program.

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 623, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2009.)