To remove the limitation imposed as a result of receiving funding under the Land and Water Conservation Fund on the conversion of Northeast Sedgwick County Park in Sedgwick County, Kansas, to a use other than public outdoor recreation.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5036
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-26: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-18T16:30:27Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 5036) aims to exempt a specific park in Kansas from federal restrictions that normally prevent the conversion of publicly funded recreation lands to non-recreational uses. The goal is to allow local authorities greater flexibility in repurposing the land while removing barriers tied to prior federal funding.
Key Provisions
- The bill declares that Section 200305(f)(3) of title 54, United States Code—which enforces restrictions under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF, a federal program that provides grants for parks, trails, and outdoor recreation areas)—does not apply to Northeast Sedgwick County Park in Sedgwick County, Kansas.
- This exemption permits the park to be converted to a use other than public outdoor recreation without needing federal approval or replacement land.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, lands acquired or improved with LWCF grants cannot be converted to non-recreational purposes (e.g., commercial development or other non-park uses) unless the government provides equivalent replacement land and obtains approval from the Secretary of the Interior. This bill creates a targeted exception for this one park, bypassing those requirements entirely.
- No other changes are made to the broader LWCF framework; the exemption is limited to this specific location.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The National Park Service (NPS) or Department of the Interior (DOI), which oversee LWCF compliance, will no longer enforce conversion rules for this park, potentially reducing administrative oversight for this case but setting no precedent for others.
- On citizens: Local residents in Sedgwick County may lose access to the park for outdoor recreation if it's repurposed, but it could enable community benefits like economic development or infrastructure improvements. Broader national impacts on recreation funding or access are minimal, as this is a single-site exemption.
- On international relations: None; this is a domestic land-use matter with no foreign policy elements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Sedgwick County government: Gains flexibility to redevelop the park, potentially for local needs like housing, roads, or commercial projects.
- Local residents and park users: Could face reduced recreational opportunities if the land is converted, affecting community access to green spaces.
- Federal agencies (e.g., NPS and DOI): Lose enforcement authority over this site but see no broader operational changes.
- Environmental and recreation advocates: May oppose the loss of protected parkland, though their influence is limited to this localized issue.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This creates a narrow statutory carve-out, which is permissible under Congress's authority to amend federal laws but could invite similar requests for other LWCF-funded sites, potentially leading to piecemeal erosion of the program's protections if replicated.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it aligns with Congress's spending power and property clause authority over federal grants, without infringing on states' rights or due process.
- Political: As a district-specific bill introduced by Rep. Estes (likely representing Kansas), it reflects local advocacy for development over recreation preservation. It may highlight tensions between federal conservation mandates and local land-use priorities, but its scope is too limited for national political controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-26: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-08-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To remove the limitation imposed as a result of receiving funding under the Land and Water Conservation Fund on the conversion of Northeast Sedgwick County Park in Sedgwick County, Kansas, to a use other than public outdoor recreation. — issued 2025-08-26 — PDF (2 pages)