Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 84 Part 2.djvu/451

 84 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 91-609-DEC. 31, 1970

1781

EXTENSION OF URBAN INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES AUTHORIZATION

SEC. 305. Section 906 of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 is amended by striking out "July 1, 1971" and inserting in lieu thereof "July 1, 1972''. TITLE

lY—CONSOLIDATION OF PKOGKAMS

OPEN-SPACE

^3 stat^-394^.^

LAND

SEC. 401. Effective July 1, 1971, title VII of the Housing Act of 1961 is amended to read as follows:

Effective date. ^s Stat. iss. 42 USC 1500.

"TITLE VII—OPEN-SPACE LAND " F I N D I N G S AND

PURPOSE

"SEC. 701. (a) The Congress finds that the rapid expansion of the Nation's urban areas and the rapid growth of population within such areas has resulted in severe problems of urban and suburban living for the preponderant majority of the Nation's present and future population, including the lack of valuable open-space land for recreational and other purposes. "(b) The Congress further finds that there is a need for the additional provision of parks and other open space in the built-up portions of urban areas especially in low income neighborhoods and communities and a need for greater and better coordinated State and local efforts to make available and improve open-space land throughout entire urban areas. "(c) The Congress further finds that there is a need for timely action to preserve and restore areas, sites, and structures of historic or achitectural value in order that these remaining evidences of our history and heritage shall not be lost or destroyed through the expansion and development of the Nation's urban areas. " (d) I t is the purpose of this title to help curb urban sprawl and prevent the spread of urban blight and deterioration, to encourage more economic and desirable urban development, to assist in preserving areas and properties of historic or architectural value, and to help provide necessary recreational, conservation, and scenic areas by assisting State and local public bodies in taking prompt action to (1) provide, preserve, and develop open-space land in a manner consistent with the planned long-range development of the Nation's urban areas, (2) acquire, improve, and restore areas, sites, and structures of historic or architectural vahie, and (3) develop and improve open space and other public urban land, in accordance with programs to encourage and coordinate local public and private efforts toward this end. " G R A N T S FOR ACQUISITION AND FOR DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN-SPACE LAND

"SEC. 702. (a) The Secretary is authorized to make grants to States and local public bodies to help finance (1) the acquisition of title to, or other interest in, open-space land in urban areas and (2) the development of open-space or other land in urban areas for open-space uses. The amount of any such grant shall not exceed 50 per centum of the eligible project cost, as approved by the Secretary, of such acquisition or development. Not more than 50 per centum of the non-Federal share of such eligible project cost may, to the extent authorized in regulations established by the Secretary, be made up by donations of land or materials.

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