Overview

Title

To designate the Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site in Harlem, New York, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

In this bill, Congress wants to honor a basketball park in New York called Holcombe Rucker Park for its important role in basketball history. They want to put up signs and educational stuff to teach people about it, but they need to make sure they don't break any local rules or upset property owners.

Summary AI

S. 5591 proposes to officially recognize Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem, New York, as the "Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site." The bill allows the Secretary of the Interior to create agreements with public or private entities to install educational and interpretive materials at the park. However, this designation will not make the site part of the National Park System and will not interfere with private property rights or local zoning laws. The aim is to honor Holcombe Rucker's contributions and acknowledge the park's significant influence on basketball and its players.

Published

2024-12-18
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2024-12-18
Package ID: BILLS-118s5591is

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
540
Pages:
3
Sentences:
13

Language

Nouns: 187
Verbs: 33
Adjectives: 20
Adverbs: 3
Numbers: 16
Entities: 48

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.21
Average Sentence Length:
41.54
Token Entropy:
4.56
Readability (ARI):
22.47

AnalysisAI

The bill titled "Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act" seeks to recognize Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem, New York, as a national commemorative site. This park is historically significant within the basketball community and is celebrated for its association with the development of the game and the cultivation of numerous talented players. The legislation aims to ensure the park’s legacy is preserved while allowing for educational and interpretive programming.

General Summary of the Bill

The Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act is a legislative proposal that seeks to designate Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem as a commemorative site. This designation acknowledges the park's historical and cultural significance, particularly in relation to basketball. The bill empowers the Secretary of the Interior to collaborate with various entities to develop educational and interpretive content, such as plaques and exhibits, to honor the park's history. Importantly, the designation does not incorporate the site into the National Park System, meaning it maintains its current management structure without new federal ownership or control.

Summary of Significant Issues

While the bill serves a commendable purpose in honoring a place of significant cultural heritage, several issues arise within its provisions:

  • Ambiguity in Cooperative Agreements: The bill allows for cooperative agreements with "appropriate public or private entities" but does not clearly define what constitutes as such. This lack of specificity could lead to disagreements or complications.

  • Broad Terminology: The use of terms like "interpretive and educational purposes" are not clearly defined, potentially resulting in inconsistent application or interpretation of what forms of commemoration are appropriate.

  • Ownership Consent: The requirement for written consent from the current site owner might become problematic if ownership changes or if the owner is uncooperative, thereby stalling the installation of educational exhibits or markers.

  • Lack of Criteria for Exhibits: There are no criteria or guidelines for the types of interpretive exhibits or markers, which could lead to varying interpretations of what is deemed suitable.

  • Maintenance and Funding Uncertainties: By not making the site a unit of the National Park System, uncertainties about long-term maintenance and funding could arise, potentially creating a financial burden on local entities.

  • Potential Legal Conflicts: The bill does not clarify mechanisms to resolve disputes regarding zoning or property rights, which might provoke legal challenges.

Impacts on the Public and Specific Stakeholders

Broadly speaking, the designation of Holcombe Rucker Park as a national commemorative site may foster greater public appreciation for its historical role in basketball's evolution. It could also serve as a cultural and educational touchstone for visitors, highlighting the park's role in the community and its contributions to the sport.

However, specific stakeholders such as local authorities, current landowners, and potentially affected community members may face challenges. The involvement of local government entities and private owners could lead to debates over land-use rights and responsibilities. The potential financial obligations for maintenance and improvement rest primarily with these stakeholders, absent clear federal investment or support.

In conclusion, while the bill strives to honor an iconic sports venue, it will require careful navigation of legal, financial, and collaborative landscapes to succeed in its intentions without causing undue burden or conflict.

Issues

  • The section on 'cooperative agreements' (Section 3(b)(1)) might be considered ambiguous as it does not clearly define what constitutes 'appropriate public or private entities', which could lead to disagreements or complications in the administration of the site.

  • The broad term 'interpretive and educational purposes' in Section 3(b)(1) may lead to differing interpretations, potentially resulting in inconsistent applications and strategies for the commemorative site's use and presentation.

  • The phrase 'with the written consent of the owner of the Commemorative Site' in Section 3(b)(1) may create complications if the current ownership changes or if the owner does not cooperate, which could hinder the implementation of the cooperative agreements and the installation of interpretive exhibits or markers.

  • There is no specified criteria or guidelines for what qualifies as 'interpretive exhibits or markers' in Section 3(b)(1), which could lead to subjective decision-making and potentially inconsistent or inappropriate commemorations.

  • While the provision in Section 3(b)(2) that the site shall not be a unit of the National Park System is clear, it leaves open questions about the long-term maintenance and funding responsibilities, which could become a financial burden on local entities.

  • The language in Section 3(b)(3)(A) does not clarify what happens in the case of disputes over the rights of 'private property or any local zoning ordinance', potentially leading to legal challenges or conflicts between the Secretary and property owners.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section states that the Act can be called the “Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act.”

2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

In this section of the Act, several terms are defined: "City" refers to New York City; "Commemorative Site" refers to Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site; "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Interior; and "State" refers to the State of New York.

3. National Commemorative Site Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem, New York, is officially recognized as a national commemorative site, allowing the Secretary to collaborate with entities for educational purposes like installing plaques to honor Holcombe Rucker and the park's impact on basketball, without turning it into a National Park System unit or affecting property rights.