Veteran's Memorial Park Crime Prevention and Safety Initiative.

This grant program is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (the 'Recovery Act') and by 42 U.S.C. 3751(a). The stated purposes of the Recovery Act are: to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery; to assist those most impacted by the recession; to provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health; to invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; and to stabilize state and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. The Recovery Act places great emphasis on accountability and transparency in the use of taxpayer dollars.

Among other things, it creates a new Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board and a new website ' Recovery.gov ' to provide information to the public, including access to detailed information on grants and contracts made with Recovery Act funds.

The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funded under the Recovery Act is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Recovery JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. Recovery JAG funded projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures.

The town of South Windsor will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $18,496 to enhance safety and security at the Veterans Memorial Park and Pool. The South Windsor Police Department will install four poles with lighting fixtures, attached to an existing slab of concrete and video surveillance (digital recorders, color cameras). The off-road location of the park makes it attractive for mischievous youths to frolic and congregate unseen by the public, becoming an increased scene for vandalism. The installation of improved lighting along with an intrusion detection and video surveillance system will allow for the detection of unwanted persons on the premises. Additionally, such a surveillance system will allow the site to be monitored from remote locations such as the recreation offices and the police department. The addition of these security systems will allow for the continued safe operation of the park and pool facility.

NCA/NCF