Environment (Parks & Recreation)

This bill requires municipalities to provide replacement land when they take, convert, or repurpose land that was originally acquired for parks, recreation, or open space purposes. The replacement land must be at least equal in value and size per unit area to the original land being repurposed. Before making such changes, municipalities must hold a public hearing specifically focused on the proposed land conversion, detailing the reasons for the change and describing the replacement land. The hearing notice must be published in a local newspaper at least twice with specific timing requirements, and the hearing itself must occur within a set window after any other required public meetings. This law applies to all towns, cities, boroughs, and other political subdivisions within the state.