Senate Hearing Demonstrates Continued Bipartisan Support for Policy that Connects Children, Youth and Families with the Outdoors

December 8, 2021

By Jayni Rasmussen, Senior Campaign Representative, OAK

As the Build Back Better Act moves through Congress, carrying with it billions in potential funding for outdoor access, the Senate is now considering an historic slate of bills that could transform who has access to public lands and waters.  Last week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on a potential package of outdoor recreation bills, focusing on the acute effect the pandemic has had on outdoor recreation, as well as the drastic inequities in access to the outdoors that have been highlighted over the past two years. 

Of the bills discussed, several OAK priorities were included: 


The Outdoors for All Act would create a dedicated source of funding for projects that expand outdoor recreational opportunities in urban and low-income communities across the nation.


The Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act would provide a critical one-time investment of $500 million in the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) to help states and cities build more parks in underserved areas. 

The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act would streamline the permitting process so that more people can access public lands and waters. 


The Environmental Justice in Recreational Permitting Act would direct government agencies to explore ways to make the outdoors more accessible for environmental justice communities. 

The economy and health were major themes in this hearing, from the effect the pandemic has had on the outdoor recreation economy that comprises 2.1 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), to effects the pandemic and outdoor access has had on physical and mental health. Senators spoke about concerns for the mental health of children and youth, with more than 28 million children currently lacking access to open space within a ten minute walk, bike or roll from their homes.

Considering the proven mental and physical health benefits of accessing the outdoors, it’s absolutely critical that Congress invest in these common-sense, cost-effective investments that increase outdoor access. As hearing witness Jess Wahl Turner of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable stated, these bills would drive pragmatic solutions that “facilitate more people getting outside, while protecting our natural resources now and for generations to come.”  

So, how exactly can the passage of these bills help close the nature equity gap for children, youth and families? 

Reducing Barriers to Exploring the Outdoors 

Before Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) was elected to Congress, he was a recreational guide in the state, noting during the hearing that he could  “speak from experience how difficult the permitting process is.” Passing the SOAR Act and the Environmental Justice in Recreational Permitting Act would mean more recreational guides as well as outdoor visitors of all backgrounds could have easier access to public lands and waters. A streamlined process will also make it easier and more cost-effective for guides to offer more varied experiences, helping more children and families to safely enjoy the outdoors and learn recreational skills.

Increased Investment in Youth & Family Outdoor Access

As the Trust for Public Land found in a 2020 report, parks serving primarily nonwhite populations are half the size of parks that serve white populations, and nearly five times as crowded. Unfortunately, low-income and racially and ethnically diverse communities often receive significantly less investment in their outdoor spaces. The Outdoors for All Act and Parks Jobs and Equity Act would address this by focusing increased investments in building and improving parks in these communities. 

OAK is excited to see Congress pass the Build Back Better Act so that next steps on these and other bills can be taken to increase equitable access to the outdoors for children, youth and families. 

Want to stay tuned on what’s happening on the Hill, and how you can make an impact? Follow OAK on social media (Twitter and Facebook) and sign up for our newsletter. 

About the author:

Jayni Rasmussen is the Senior Campaign Representative for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) & Youth at Sierra Club.

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RELEASE: Build Back Better is a Game-Changer for Outdoor Equity


Biden’s Plan Includes Transformational Investments in Urban Parks, Community Green Space

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 1, 2021

Contact: Ian Brickey (202) 675-6270 or ian.brickey@sierraclub.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Biden has unveiled the framework for the Build Back Better Act, including major investments in urban and community parks and green spaces. The package includes $100 million for the creation and maintenance of urban parks across the country, $2.5 billion for urban and community tree planting, and robust funding, supporting 300,000 jobs, for an ambitious Civilian Climate Corps program, among other major green space investments. Taken together, these investments will be a major advancement towards closing the nature equity gap and taking on climate change.

In response, members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) released the following statements:

“This framework lays out a bold vision towards creating healthy and safe communities where all can benefit from connecting with nature,” said Jackie Ostfeld, founder and chair of OAK and director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign. “For too long, we have neglected urban communities and our public lands and waters. This ambitious proposal will provide much-needed investment and help us take on the overlapping crises of our time — the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, and the nature equity crisis. We must not let this opportunity slip by.”

“This framework is an historic opportunity to mobilize a powerful workforce of young people and veterans to address climate change, expand tree cover to cool communities, and increase access to nature and the outdoors for millions of Americans,” said Paul Sanford, OAK Vice Chair and Director of Recreation Policy at the Wilderness Society. “We urge Congress to seize this opportunity to address the existential threat of climate change and provide close-to-home outdoor recreation and learning opportunities for everyone.” 

“We’re facing daunting challenges that are resulting in the severe deterioration of our natural environment and societal wellbeing. I believe that as a society, we’re finally approaching a meaningful understanding of the interrelated nature of these challenges and how to go about addressing them,” said Luis Villa, Executive Director of Latino Outdoors. “Investing in initiatives that boost our climate resilience and simultaneously help build a more robust and diverse community of outdoor enthusiasts and conservation constituents is a critical part of a comprehensive solution, one that we have no time to waste in implementing if we want to ensure a livable future for our children and their children.”

“On behalf of The Corps Network, I extend appreciation to President Joe Biden and his administration for including a Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) in the Build Back Better framework. For decades, Corps programs have engaged thousands of diverse young Americans in national service projects that strengthen the resilience of our communities. Through a CCC initiative, our country has an opportunity to make a significant impact on our climate future by completing critical projects and training the sustainability-focused workforce we need,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President & CEO of The Corps Network. “We commend the administration for emphasizing the importance of investing in a CCC that looks like America, focuses on environmental justice, and leads to good-paying jobs. The Corps Network is grateful to the many champions that have promoted this vision of a modern CCC. We encourage the House and Senate to pass this historic legislation. We look forward to working with the White House and Congress on implementation of an equitable Civilian Climate Corps.”

“Enjoying the outdoors and reconnecting with nature in comunidad has always been essential to our Latino/a/x communities. Being in nature is critical to the mental health and wellbeing of our families and children- providing solace, a way to reconnect and reduce the stress in our everyday lives. We know that nearly 100 million Americans, including 28 million children, do not live within walking distance to open space,” said Mariana Del Valle Prieto Cervantes, Water Equity and Ocean Program Manager with GreenLatinos. “That is why we must make sure that the Build Back Better Agenda continues to maintain bold investments to ensure that everyone has access to the outdoors regardless of where they live and their social or economic status -this includes investments to the Civilian Climate Corps and urban green space programs. These programs are crucial to building up the infrastructure we need to build healthy and safe communities while taking on the climate crisis.” 

“Parks are an essential part of improving public health, protecting vulnerable communities from the impacts of the climate crisis, and building strong community cohesion,” said Alex Schaefer, Sr. Legislative Representative at the Trust for Public Land. “Including urban parks funding in the Build Back Better Act will have a major impact on our nation’s nature gap and ensure resources go to communities who would benefit most.”

“Throughout the pandemic, people have turned to the outdoors for respite and found renewed strength in nature. We have seen the power of outdoor recreation to buoy communities and local economies during unprecedented challenges, as well as the urgency of addressing disparities in access to nature,” said Taldi Harrison, Senior Manager of Government Affairs at REI Co-op. “At the same time, this past year has made clear that our climate crisis threatens life outside for everyone, with severe wildfires, drought, flooding and hurricanes devastating communities across the country. At REI, we’ve committed to ambitious targets to address equity, climate, and access to the outdoors. However, to fully reach these goals, we need our federal government to do the same. The Build Back Better Act is an historic opportunity to harness the power of the outdoors to advance our national climate strategy, enhance health wealth and well-bring in urban and rural communities alike, and ensure that future generations enjoy a healthy and vibrant planet. We urge Congress to maintain robust funding for outdoor programs in the reconciliation bill that benefit us all.” 

“America is on the cusp of making transformational investments in our infrastructure, our people, and our environment,” said Joel Pannell, Vice President of Urban Policy at American Forests. “Equitable investments in urban tree canopy and outdoor access will create jobs, build resilient infrastructure, and make our neighborhoods cooler, cleaner, and healthier. Tree Equity is climate action we can take now to address the life and death consequences of extreme heat and air pollution while generating economic opportunity in the very communities that have been historically underserved and are suffering most from the combined impacts of climate change.”

“It is time to break down the barriers to ensuring all children, all families, and all communities have access to safe and healthy natural spaces everywhere they live, work, and play,” said Sarah Bodor, Director of Policy for the North American Association of Environmental Education. “Investments in green infrastructure and workforce development are essential to achieving our climate goals and building a more just and sustainable future.”

WHAT THIS FRAMEWORK INCLUDES:

  • Robust funding for a modern Civilian Climate Corps, set to support 300,000 jobs. An ambitious CCC is necessary for reaching the goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030 to stave off the worst effects of climate change. An ambitious CCC would create essential jobs paying a $15 per hour wage with full health care, access to transportation, housing and childcare for young people and veterans.
  • $2.5 billion for urban and community forestry support programs. These programs are essential to building up the green infrastructure we need to build healthy and safe communities and to take on the climate crisis.
  • $100 million for urban parks. Nearly 100 million Americans, including 28 million children, do not live within walking distance of a quality park.

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About the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK): OAK is a national strategic partnership of organizations from diverse sectors with a common interest in connecting children, youth, and families with the outdoors. The members of OAK are brought together by the belief that the wellness of current and future generations, the health of our planet and communities and the economy of the future depend on humans having a personal, direct, and life-long relationship with nature and the outdoors. OAK brings together more than 100 businesses and organizations to address the growing divide between children, youth, and the outdoors. www.outdoorsallianceforkids.org

RELEASE: Senators Must Maintain Bold Investments in CCC, Urban Green Space Programs

Alliance of more than 100 Organizations Urges Congress to Keep Outdoors Programs in BBB Act

Friday, October 22, 2021

Contact: Ian Brickey: (202) 675-6270, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids called on Congress to maintain full funding for critical outdoors programs in the final version of the federal reconciliation bill. The package drafted by the House of Representatives includes nearly $35 billion in funding for federal programs to support community tree planting, urban parks development, nearby nature access, and youth access to the outdoors and nature. While these programs are popular and necessary for taking on the climate crisis, their full funding is being threatened by potential cuts to the $3.5 trillion package.

In response, members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) released the following statements:

“The Build Back Better Act could be one of the largest investments in outdoor accessibility and equity in a generation,” said Jackie Ostfeld, founder and chair of OAK and director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign. “After years of disinvestment in communities and neglect of our public lands, this ambitious proposal would help us build healthy and safe communities and ensure that future generations are able to establish direct and powerful connections with nature. From climate change to outdoor access to health, we’re facing multiple crises. We must have a bold vision to take on these challenges. We cannot miss this opportunity.”

“Right now, Congress has an historic opportunity to mobilize a powerful workforce of young people and veterans to address climate change, expand tree cover to cool communities, and increase access to nature and the outdoors for millions of Americans,” said Paul Sanford, OAK Vice Chair and Director of Recreation Policy at the Wilderness Society. “We urge Congress to seize this opportunity by using budget reconciliation to address the existential threat of climate change and provide close-to-home outdoor recreation and learning opportunities for everyone.” 

“We’re facing daunting challenges that are resulting in the severe deterioration of our natural environment and societal wellbeing. I believe that as a society, we’re finally approaching a meaningful understanding of the interrelated nature of these challenges and how to go about addressing them,” said Luis Villa, Executive Director of Latino Outdoors. “Investing in initiatives that boost our climate resilience and simultaneously help build a more robust and diverse community of outdoor enthusiasts and conservation constituents is a critical part of a comprehensive solution, one that we have no time to waste in implementing if we want to ensure a livable future for our children and their children.”

“The climate change and environmental injustice challenges we face must be met with bold solutions. The effects of climate change are at our doorsteps and the window is closing to make changes for the better. We urge Congress to seize this moment to invest in programs that will help us build more sustainable, resilient communities for all,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The Corps Network. “A robustly-funded Civilian Climate Corps offers our country a historic opportunity to tackle critical environmental infrastructure projects and train the diverse, climate-ready workforce we need. For our health, our natural resources, and our future, we must act.”

“Enjoying the outdoors and reconnecting with nature in comunidad has always been essential to our Latino/a/x communities. Being in nature is critical to the mental health and wellbeing of our families and children- providing solace, a way to reconnect and reduce the stress in our everyday lives. We know that nearly 100 million Americans, including 28 million children, do not live within walking distance to open space,” said Mariana Del Valle Prieto Cervantes, Water Equity and Ocean Program Manager with GreenLatinos. “That is why we must make sure that the Build Back Better Agenda continues to maintain bold investments to ensure that everyone has access to the outdoors regardless of where they live and their social or economic status -this includes investments to the Civilian Climate Corps and urban green space programs. These programs are crucial to building up the infrastructure we need to build healthy and safe communities while taking on the climate crisis.” 

“Parks are an essential part of improving public health, protecting vulnerable communities from the impacts of the climate crisis, and building strong community cohesion,” said Alex Schaefer, Sr. Legislative Representative at the Trust for Public Land. “Including urban parks funding in the Build Back Better Act will have a major impact on our nation’s nature gap and ensure resources go to communities who would benefit most.”

“Throughout the pandemic, people have turned to the outdoors for respite and found renewed strength in nature. We have seen the power of outdoor recreation to buoy communities and local economies during unprecedented challenges, as well as the urgency of addressing disparities in access to nature,” said Taldi Harrison, Senior Manager of Government Affairs at REI Co-op. “At the same time, this past year has made clear that our climate crisis threatens life outside for everyone, with severe wildfires, drought, flooding and hurricanes devastating communities across the country. At REI, we’ve committed to ambitious targets to address equity, climate, and access to the outdoors. However, to fully reach these goals, we need our federal government to do the same. The Build Back Better Act is an historic opportunity to harness the power of the outdoors to advance our national climate strategy, enhance health wealth and well-bring in urban and rural communities alike, and ensure that future generations enjoy a healthy and vibrant planet. We urge Congress to maintain robust funding for outdoor programs in the reconciliation bill that benefit us all.”

“America is on the cusp of making transformational investments in our infrastructure, our people, and our environment,” said Joel Pannell, Vice President of Urban Policy at American Forests. “Equitable investments in urban tree canopy and outdoor access will create jobs, build resilient infrastructure, and make our neighborhoods greener, cleaner, and healthier. Tree Equity is climate action we can take now to address the life and death consequences of extreme heat while generating economic opportunity in the very communities that have been historically underserved and are suffering most from the combined impacts of climate change.”

“It is time to break down the barriers to ensuring all children, all families, and all communities have access to safe and healthy natural spaces everywhere they live, work, and play,” said Sarah Bodor, Director of Policy for the North American Association of Environmental Education. “Investments in green infrastructure and workforce development are essential to achieving our climate goals and building a more just and sustainable future.”

“We have an unprecedented opportunity to give all young people, especially those in under-resourced communities a pathway to environmental education, service, conservation, recreation and employment,” said Katie Adamson, Vice President of Health Partnerships and Policy at YMCA of the USA. “Now more than ever our youth need nature to connect, build relationships and a sense of belonging and to understand their role in addressing the complex environmental challenges before us.”

WHAT THESE CUTS COULD COST US:

  • $30 billion for a modern Civilian Climate Corps. An ambitious CCC is necessary for reaching the goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030 to stave off the worst effects of climate change. It would create essential jobs paying a $15 per hour wage with full health care, access to transportation, housing and childcare for young people and veterans.
  • $3.1 billion for urban and community forestry support programs. These programs are essential to building up the green infrastructure we need to build healthy and safe communities and to take on the climate crisis.
  • $500 million for urban parks. Nearly 100 million Americans, including 28 million children, do not live within walking distance of a quality park.
  • $100 million for the Every Kid Outdoors program. Funding for EKO would provide opportunities for children to visit their national parks, public lands and waters, ensuring fourth graders and their families, especially underserved and disabled children, have opportunities to enjoy a park experience.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.

About the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK)

OAK is a national strategic partnership of organizations from diverse sectors with a common interest in connecting children, youth, and families with the outdoors. The members of OAK are brought together by the belief that the wellness of current and future generations, the health of our planet and communities and the economy of the future depend on humans having a personal, direct, and life-long relationship with nature and the outdoors. OAK brings together more than 100 businesses and organizations to address the growing divide between children, youth, and the outdoors. www.outdoorsallianceforkids.org

[RE-BLOG]: Congresswoman Nanette Barragán: “Build Back Better Must Include Our Parks”

September 1, 2021

By Congresswoman Nanette Barragán and Jackie Ostfeld

This blog was originally posted on SierraClub.org. Featured photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Summer and the outdoors go hand-in-hand, and nowhere is that felt more than in our parks. From hikes through ancient forests to weekend cookouts with friends to soccer or Little League games, our parks are where so many summer activities turn into treasured memories.

Our parks have been an especially important outlet this summer, as we continue to take on  the COVID-19 pandemic. Months of staying at home to slow the spread of the virus made it clear just how essential spending time outdoors is for our mental and physical health. In fact, studies show that spending as little as 20 minutes a day outdoors can have significant positive effects on health and wellbeing, improve mood and attention, lower stress levels, and even reduce the risk of psychiatric disorders. 

Unfortunately, about 100 million Americans, including about 28 million children, do not live within a 10-minute walk of a quality neighborhood park. 

The disparity in access to the outdoors is particularly felt by lower-income communities and communities of color. White neighborhoods are three times more likely to have access to nearby nature than communities of color, and the parks and green spaces in wealthier neighborhoods are likely to be larger than the parks and green spaces in less-affluent communities. 

With demand for parks and open spaces at an all-time high, it is long past time to address these historic inequities and make the benefits of the outdoors available to all. 

For example, a survey done by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation found the average amount of parkland in the county is 3.3 acres per 1,000 residents. But there are great discrepancies in access to these green spaces based on where people live.

L.A. County’s city of Compton has only 0.6 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. In contrast, the city of Malibu, also in L.A. County but with three times the median household income of Compton, has 55.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.

With demand for parks and open spaces at an all-time high, it is long past time to address these historic inequities and make the benefits of the outdoors available to all. One way we can do that is passing the Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act as part of President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda. It would provide $500 million in funding for local parks in the neighborhoods and communities that have been denied access to green spaces.

Passing the Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act would have immediate and wide-ranging benefits. By funding the creation of new parks and the expansion of existing green spaces in urban neighborhoods, the legislation would make it easier for low-income communities and communities of color to experience the mental and physical health benefits of access to nearby nature. Finding an outdoor space could become as easy as walking down the block.

The funding invested in local parks through the Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act would also help local economies that have been negatively affected by the pandemic. Local parks support 1.1 million jobs in the United States and generate more than $166 billion in economic activity. The Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act would protect 100,000 seasonal jobs currently threatened by pandemic-related budget cuts, while also creating more than 8,000 new positions. Using those resources to renovate more than 500 outdoor sites would also generate $1.37 billion in economic activity. 

Finally, supercharging funding to local parks can build up the critical green infrastructure we need to take on the climate crisis. Green spaces  parks absorb carbon and help clean up the air. They also mitigate the impacts of climate change such as flooding, and they’re critical to protecting vulnerable populations from the “urban heat island effect.” This is important because neighborhoods without sufficient tree coverage can be 10 to15 degrees hotter than greener neighborhoods just minutes away.

The pandemic has made it clear how much we need the outdoors. We have a critical opportunity to jumpstart our economy while increasing access to nature and fighting climate change. The Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act can help us do it.

About the authors:

Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which is based in southern Los Angeles County. In 2019, she became the first Latina in 10 years to hold a seat on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, serving on the Energy, Environment & Climate Change, and Health subcommittees.

Jackie Ostfeld is the Director of the Sierra Club’s Outdoors For All campaign, and Founder and Chair of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids. 

[Re-Blog] Congresswoman Katie Porter: “After a Year Indoors, We Must Support Every Kid Outdoors”

August 25, 2021

By Congresswoman Katie Porter and Jayni Rasmussen 

This blog was originally posted on SierraClub.org. Featured photo: Big Bend at Zion National Park, courtesy Cadence C. Cook, National Park Service.

Representative Katie Porter, one of the authors of this blog, knows firsthand the joy of the outdoors. Growing up, her family took vacations at national parks — not just because they were beautiful or historic, but because her working-class family could afford to visit them. Now, as a mother of three young children, she’s experienced parks as a classroom, a playground, and once again, a place to bond with family.

For more than a year, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused upheaval, stress, and trauma, especially for youth and families. School operations and classroom learning were disrupted, and will continue under challenges this year. Physical distancing and staying indoors, while important for protecting public health, have replaced too many crucial developmental experiences.

The pandemic has made it clear: it’s more important than ever to ensure everyone can access time in nature. Studies consistently show that spending time outdoors can improve mental and physical health, boost concentration, and even help children perform better in school. The outdoors can have powerful healing effects, especially for those recovering from trauma. After a year spent indoors, Americans of all ages need the proven physical and mental health benefits of getting outdoors more than ever. 

But the pandemic has also underscored that it is harder for some families to benefit from the outdoors. Many families, especially lower-income families and families of color, cannot easily access  high-quality public lands and green spaces. Visiting a national park can be an undertaking for any family, even without the added complications from COVID-19. A visit to one of the more popular national parks could involve paying for flights, hotels, and rental cars, all before paying the fee to enter the park. And the situation is not always better closer to home. An estimated 100 million Americans, including 28 million children, do not live within a 10-minute walk of a high-quality park or green space.

Legislation passed during the pandemic, like the Great American Outdoors Act, has addressed some of these issues. The legislation’s Legacy Restoration Fund improves national parks by providing better visitor services, roads, and trails, among other improvements. Moreover, full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund creates consistent resources for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, which strengthens the creation of high-quality parks and green spaces in underserved urban neighborhoods.

Without a doubt, the Great American Outdoors Act takes important steps to improve the experiences of children, youth, and families who visit national parks and public lands. But we need a comprehensive and dedicated program to engage youth with the outdoors to address the cost, knowledge, and other barriers to experiencing our public lands.

That’s where the Every Kid Outdoors program comes in. Since 2015, Every Kid Outdoors has offered passes to all fourth graders and their families that allow them free access to all national parks, public lands, and public waters. It gives every fourth grader, regardless of ability to pay, the opportunity to build a direct connection with nature.

Get your Every Kid Outdoors pass here!

Earlier this year, Congresswoman Porter brought her two sons and fourth-grade daughter to Zion National Park using the Every Kid Outdoors pass. They enjoyed fishing, hiking, and sightseeing, and started a family tradition of outdoor appreciation. 

Every Kid Outdoors is simple, and it’s popular with families. This common-sense investment helps families who otherwise can’t afford to visit and enables all families to spend their money supporting local economies in surrounding communities. However, the Every Kid Outdoors program has never received adequate funding to address the inequities that prevent many families from accessing nature. From difficulty actually getting to parks, to not feeling safe or welcome even if they’re able to reach them, it’s essential that we address the root causes of the “nature gap.”

That’s why, at a time when direct connections to nature have never been more essential for children and families, it’s critical that Congress support this program. Investing in Every Kid Outdoors will provide safe transportation for kids and families to public lands and waters, offer more robust outdoors programming, and increase access to the outdoors for people with disabilities. All people, regardless of race, income, or ability, deserve access to nature.

The outdoors can be a place of respite and healing. We all, especially our children, will need nature to recover from the physical and mental health effects of COVID-19. The Every Kid Outdoors pass is a simple way to give children and youth another opportunity for healing from the stress and trauma of the pandemic. Let’s make sure they can benefit from this direct connection to nature by fully funding the Every Kid Outdoors program.

TAKE ACTION

.About the authors:

Congresswoman Katie Porter, a Democrat, represents California’s 45th Congressional District

Jayni Rasmussen is the Senior Campaign Representative for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) & Youth, Sierra Club

Support Every Kid Outdoors by sharing this blog on Twitter:

After a year indoors, we must support #EveryKidOutdoors – read this blog, co-authored by @RepKatiePorter, on how fully funding Every Kid Outdoors will ensure every child can benefit from the physical and mental health benefits the outdoors provides.

Watch Now: OAK’s Youth Advocates on REI’s Instagram Stories!



This afternoon, OAK Steering Committee member REI Co-op posted on their Instagram account our collaborative story series featuring a Q&A with two of OAK’s amazing youth advocates, Robbie Bond of Kids Speak for Parks and Junior Ranger Tigran Nahabedian!

In the stories, Robbie and Tigran both make an incredible case for full funding for the Every Kid Outdoors program, and the series ends out by linking viewers to an action alert on REI’s new Cooperative Action Network platform. 

Fully Funding Every Kid Outdoors 

OAK has long advocated for the federal Every Kid Outdoors program, which provides fourth graders and their families with a pass so they and their families can access federal public land and water sites for free for a whole year. As Robbie and Tigran stress in the stories, it’s critical that the Every Kid Outdoors funding receive funding so that more kids can be connected to the outdoors and the mental and physical health benefits it provides. 

OAK is working with Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA-45) to secure $25 million in funding for the Every Kid Outdoors program, but we need help to ensure that the funding is passed. That’s why Robbie and Tigran are asking viewers of the story series to take action to fully fund Every Kid Outdoors. 

Elevating Youth Voices 

It’s critical that we lift up youth voices like Robbie and Tigran’s – after all, they’re representatives of the very group we’re trying to connect to the outdoors! Join us in boosting the REI Instagram story and the action alert for fully funding Every Kid Outdoors: 

  1. Watch the REI Instagram story here, and share it with your friends!
  2. At the end of the Instagram story series, swipe up to take action to fully fund Every Kid Outdoors. 
  3. Like / RT / Share OAK’s Twitter and Facebook posts boosting the REI Instagram story!
  4. Follow Robbie (@Kidsspeak4parks), Tigran (@JrRangerTigran), OAK (@OAK_Updates), and REI (@REI) on social media. 

Questions? Reach out to OAK’s Senior Campaign Representative, Jayni Rasmussen, at jrasmussen@sierraclub.org.

RELEASE: Park and Conservation Organizations Applaud DOI’s $16 Million in Funding for Local Parks and Recreation in Disadvantaged Urban Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Contact: Ian Brickey (202) 675-6270 or ian.brickey@sierraclub.org

Today, the National Park Service announced its fourth round of Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) awardees which will distribute $16 million in funding for parks projects across 19 communities throughout the country. The ORLP, funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, was created by Congress in 2014 to expand outdoor recreation opportunities in underserved communities across the nation. The National Park Service competitive grant program delivers funding to urban areas – jurisdictions of at least 50,000 people – with priority given to projects located in economically disadvantaged areas and lacking in outdoor recreation opportunities.  

Today’s announcement was lauded by OAK as well as leading national parks and conservation organizations including Sierra Club, City Parks Alliance, National Recreation and Park Association, The Trust for Public Land, and The Wilderness Society.

“The Outdoors Alliance for Kids is thrilled to see this latest round of transformative grants funded through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program,” said Jayni Rasmussen, Sr. Campaign Representative for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK). “This past year made it clear that not all youth and families have equal access to the mental and physical health benefits of spending time in nature. By targeting investment in urban park projects that benefit the children, youth and families who have been disproportionately denied access to the outdoors, this round of ORLP grants, the most funding of its kind made available to date, is a significant step toward rectifying these inequities.”

“The ORLP program is critical to promoting equitable access to the outdoors. The parks and greenspace projects supported by this program ensure the communities that have been robbed of access to the outdoors are able to experience the benefits of nature that boosts our health and heals our spirits. In making these investments, we can take important steps towards building an outdoors — and a liveable planet — for all.” Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign director.

“The National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) awardees include park parks that will help ensure all people have access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities, leading to healthier and stronger communities. The ORLP provides critical funding for urban parks and ORLP grants double their impact when matched with local funds, leading to enormous health, economic, and social equity benefits,” said Julie Waterman, Advocacy Director of City Parks Alliance.

“Today’s announcement by the National Park Service shows the important work being addressed by the Department of Interior to ensure equitable access to quality parks for all. We are strong believers in the power of parks and recreation to transform communities and improve the lives of residents. These projects provide innovative approaches that address many of the challenges being faced by vulnerable communities. These innovative projects and exciting enhancements will provide new outdoor recreation opportunities that will help to create healthy, active, and vibrant neighborhoods that have greater access to climate-smart parks that are close to home.  NRPA is proud to be a champion of the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program and applauds the U.S. Congress and the National Park Service for the investments made today.” Elvis Cordova, Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy

“Access to parks and green space should not be dictated by a person’s income, race, or neighborhood,” said Yvette Lopez Ledesma, Senior Director of Community Led Conservation at The Wilderness Society. “The benefits of improved mental, physical and spiritual health – along with the need for a nearby place to play, cool off in the shade and simply get some fresh air are critical components of community health. The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program helps break down the barriers to equitable access to nature faced by millions of people across the country. It provides much-needed funding for local parks and in turn, boosts local economies, provides jobs, and conserves nature in urban areas.”

“Equitable access to the outdoors helps people lead healthier, happier, more prosperous lives. This year’s awardees demonstrate both the importance of and demand for federal park funding. The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program is a tremendous asset for communities across the country and we’re excited to see the benefits,” said Jordan Schreiber, Senior Director for Policy Advocacy and Government Relations.

The National Park Service is currently accepting applications for the fifth round ORLP funding. You can find out more information on how to apply here.

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Selected communities include:

California 

East Bay Regional Park District (San Francisco) 

Tidewater Estuary Park Improvements and Public Access – $1,000,000 

East Bay Regional Park District plans to redevelop Tidewater Estuary Park in East Oakland, expanding onto a former trucking storage yard to become an 8-acre park. Grant funds will be used to create a play area/playground, picnic and barbeque areas, and multi-use pathways. 

City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation

Ortega Park Revitalization Project – $1,000,000 

The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation plans to complete a full-scale rehabilitation of Ortega Park with a new multi-sport synthetic turf field, year-round pool, park restrooms, playground, family picnic area, and a multi-generational activity zone with a skate park, basketball, bocce ball, and other amenities. The project includes park access and circulation improvements with pedestrian pathways and expanded street parking. 

County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation

Ford’s Theater Hiking Trail – $999,822 

The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation plans to create a new hiking trail through a naturally vegetated hillside offering stunning scenic vistas within a 45-acre regional park that is also home to the Ford’s Theater. 

District of Columbia 

Department of Energy and Environment

Equitable Access to Paddle Sport Recreation at Kingman Island – $781,800 

The District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment plans to create a paddle sport recreation area at Kingman Island by constructing a pavilion for kayak and canoe storage and a permeable paver turnaround for access, restoring the wetlands around and dredging a shallow navigational channel to create an area to teach paddling, and installing a composting toilet.  

Iowa

City of Des Moines

Central Place Levee Trail – Phase I – $500,000 

The City of Des Moines plans to complete Phase 1 of the Central Place Levee Trail by developing a 1.8 mile multi-use trail section between Rotary Riverwalk Park in downtown Des Moines, and the intersection of Franklin and 2nd Avenue in north-central Des Moines. The trail sets atop a levee offering views of the Des Moines River Greenway. 

Maryland 

City of Baltimore

Middle Branch Park Trail and Water Access – $1,000,000 

The City of Baltimore plans to improve Middle Branch Park by extending a trail along and improving access to the Patapsco River to support boating, fishing/crabbing, walking, biking and wildlife viewing, and restoring the shoreline to facilitate access and improve habitat. The project is a first phase of plans for the trail that will continue on to other property along the riverfront and ultimately connect to another park. 

Massachusetts 

City of Worcester

Tacoma Street Playground Renovation – $1,000,000 

The City of Worcester plans to renovate the Tacoma Street Playground by constructing an athletic field and bleachers, installing field lighting, retaining wall, parking improvements, and upgrading the current drainage system. 

Michigan 

Genesee County

Flint River Restoration Project – $1,000,000 

In partnership with the City of Flint, Genesee County plans to help restore the Flint River Riverfront by installing multiple rock rapid areas within the main channel to naturalize river flow and allow fish passage upstream, resting pools to provide safe recreational benefits for fisherman and park users, entrance and site improvements, and furnishings. The riverbanks will also be improved by modifying and naturalizing existing concrete and sheet metal retaining walls with vegetation and rock terraces.  

Missouri 

Great Rivers Greenway (St. Louis)

A New Vision for The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Park and Trailhead – $990,000 

Great Rivers Greenway (special purpose district) of St. Louis plans to develop and rehabilitate the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Park with new and upgraded infrastructure, and conservation and safety trailhead enhancements, including meadow and woodland restoration, nature trails, site furnishings, an entry road, an event area, and parking. 

New Jersey 

City of Trenton

104 Taylor Street Soccer and Fitness Development – $1,000,000 

The City of Trenton plans to develop a soccer and fitness complex at 104 Taylor Street, the site of a former industrial site along the Assunpink Creek. New amenities include a regulation sized-soccer field and two open air pavilions, one outfitted with exercise equipment and the other left open as a multipurpose space.  

Camden County

Whitman Park Improvement and Expansion $1,000,000 

Camden County plans to improve the existing 6.5-acre Whitman Park and expand it into an adjacent 3.5-acre former industrial property, creating a 10-acre hub for youth sports and play. 

North Carolina 

City of Rocky Mount

Battle Park Renovation – $500,000 

The City of Rocky Mount plans to assist Battle Park by renovating sections of the greenway, boat ramp, fishing piers, canoe/kayak launch, installing an additional launch, replacing three existing shelters with picnic areas, providing additional trails and parking, creating a bouldering and bike trials area, making improvements to the trailhead, including restrooms, and completing riparian and landscaping improvements. 

Ohio

City of Cleveland

Clark Avenue Park Development Project – $661,724 

The City of Cleveland plans to develop Clark Avenue Park, located next to the Clark Recreation Center. The project includes preparing the site and improving infrastructure and landscaping, and installing a splash pad, play equipment, basketball court, outdoor game tables and park benches. 

Metroparks Toledo

Glass City Metropark: Urban Camping- $1,000,000 

Metroparks Toledo plans to develop urban camping infrastructure at Glass City Metropark by installing 11 campsites, four overnight eco-huts, an overlook providing views of the Maumee River, parking, restrooms and showers, a walking path and an access road. 

South Carolina 

Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission

Cooper River County Park Development – $1,000,000 

Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission plans to complete Phase 1 of the revitalization of Cooper River County Park by turning the currently undeveloped upland into a park that will complement the existing marina. The City will complete site preparation and install landscaping, passive recreation park amenities, trails, a picnic area, grills, bike racks, benches and marsh boardwalks. 

Washington 

City of Lakewood

Wards Lake Park Enhancement – $1,000,000 

The City of Lakewood plans to expand and improve critical wetland areas at Ward Lake Park and provide new active and play amenities including a bicycle/skateboard pump-track, a 3-acre fenced off-leash dog park, enhanced upland forest and native oak-prairie habitat areas, a 1-mile loop trail around the lake, pedestrian safety improvements, and greater connectivity to the park and other trail corridors. Park infrastructure will also be upgraded. 

Seattle Parks and Recreation

North Rainier Park Development – $1,000,000 

Seattle Parks and Recreation plans to develop the one-acre North Rainier Land Banked site into a new park, providing multi-use and cross generational activities including a fitness zone,  basketball half-court, picnic areas, a lawn, walking paths, bike racks, planted areas and trees. 

Seattle Parks and Recreation

Maple Wood Playfield Renovation – $1,000,000 

Seattle Parks and Recreation plans to renovate the Maple Wood Playfield by making improvements including upgrading drainage and irrigation, regrading the fields, renovating two multi-use athletic fields and restrooms, and installing a grass playing surface, new play equipment, a basketball half-court, gaga ball court, separate play structures and gathering spaces to support community gatherings/events. 

Wisconsin 

City of Milwaukee

Extending the Kinnickinnic River Oak Leaf Trail to High Needs Areas – $453,954 

The City of Milwaukee plans to construct the Kinnickinnic River Parkway Off-Road Trail at Oak Leaf Trail from 16th St to 27th (approximately 5500 linear feet) as a 10′ wide off-road paved trail. Additionally, trees will be planted, rain gardens installed, and outdoor recreation facilities will be renovated to meet community needs. 

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About the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK): OAK is a national strategic partnership of organizations from diverse sectors with a common interest in connecting children, youth, and families with the outdoors. The members of OAK are brought together by the belief that the wellness of current and future generations, the health of our planet and communities and the economy of the future depend on humans having a personal, direct, and life-long relationship with nature and the outdoors. OAK brings together more than 100 businesses and organizations to address the growing divide between children, youth, and the outdoors. 

Why We Need Public Transit to Public Lands

guest blog by Katherine Garcia and Jackie Ostfeld, originally posted on the Sierra Club blog

Photo by iStock/Oleksandr Filon

If you look for directions from Washington, D.C. to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park on Google Maps, it will chart a route for your car down to the minute. If you try to find that same route via public transit, you don’t get a detailed route, or any route at all — you get an error message. This isn’t a glitch. It’s an all-too-common problem that prevents many from getting outdoors.

When we talk about barriers to accessing public lands, common culprits include expensive entrance fees, a lack of gear, or a lack of experience or perceived safety. While those barriers are real, they assume there’s a way you can get to the parks in the first place. What if you don’t own a car? For too many people, the barriers begin before they get out the door. 

Nearly one-third of people in the U.S. live more than a 10-minute walk from a community park. Green space in our cities is distributed unfairly and inequitably due to years of racist land-use practices like redlining, which has left many frontline communities to disproportionately bear the brunt of environmental degradation like polluted air and water and the impacts of climate change like the urban heat island effect.

For many people, access to local parks and green spaces is further hampered or nonexistent due to the limitations of public transit. Many of our public lands are only accessible by private vehicles. However, the percentage of Black, Latinx, and lower-income families who do not have access to a car is more than twice as high as white and higher-income families. Without a car, it’s practically impossible for many communities to make the most of the health benefits and enjoyment provided by nature access.

With inadequate public transit, too many people are denied the positive benefits of spending time outdoors in nature. Studies consistently show that time spent outdoors has a positive impact on physical and mental health, and one study showed that even 20 minutes spent in a park can help a child concentrate better in school. As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we will need the benefits that nature bestows more than ever, and right now they’re inaccessible to too many people.

A bill working its way through Congress could help jumpstart the process of dismantling these barriers and bring the benefits of nature to those who have been denied them for so long. The Transit to Trails Act, sponsored by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), would direct millions of dollars to support expanding transit links between our public lands and green spaces and our communities nationwide. If this bill is passes, it would be an important step towards making sure our public lands — national parks, monuments, forests, seashores, wild & scenic rivers, historic sites — aren’t exclusively the domain of people with the means or desire to own a car. 

Passing the Transit to Trails Act would be a milestone achievement, but our efforts can’t stop there. We need not only to ensure that our public lands are more accessible, but also to ensure that all people have access to nature and green spaces near their homes, and clean and affordable transportation, and a liveable planet that belongs to all of us. 

The Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign is working to improve options for zero-emission public transit powered by renewable energy, as well as changing land use for more transit-accessible communities. Our Sierra Club Outdoors for All campaign is working to ensure that everyone can access the healing power of the outdoors, because access to nature is a human right. We’re united in working to ensure that everyone, not just people of privilege, can experience the outdoors through affordable, accessible, and reliable transit.

Access to parks and green spaces without owning a car is a problem, but it’s a problem with a clear solution. We play a pivotal role in developing sustainable and just solutions necessary to stop the climate crisis, the biodiversity/extinction crisis, and damage to our public lands and waters. Upgrading our public transit systems, from increasing the number of routes to using pollution-free buses, will help millions more people all across the country to access the healing power of the outdoors, while simultaneously slashing carbon emissions in the process, distributing the benefits of nature more equitably as we take on one of the greatest challenge of our time. 

Katherine Garcia is the Acting Director for the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign.
See more stories by this author

Jackie Ostfeld is the Director of the Sierra Club’s Outdoors For All campaign, and Founder and Chair of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids.
See more stories by this author

Interior Announces $150 Million for Increasing Park Access in Urban Areas – So What Does That Mean for Youth and Families?

Today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced $150 million in funding for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s newly-released America the Beautiful initiative. Since 2014, ORLP (a program of the Land and Water Conservation Fund) funding has enabled urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and support connections between people and nature in economically underserved communities.

OAK is thrilled to see ORLP get the support for which we’ve been advocating since the program’s inception. At $150 million, this is the most funding the program has ever offered, a huge testament to the tireless work of OAK’s members, partners and supporters. So what does this historic investment mean for children, youth and families?

 According to this 2020 special report from OAK member Trust for Public Land (TPL), more than 100 million people – including 28 million children – do not have a park within a 10-minute walk of home. Even when kids do have access to parks, the quality and size of the park varies greatly by who lives in the surrounding community; another study from TPL in 2020 showed that parks serving primarily nonwhite populations are half the size of parks that serve majority white populations – and they’re five times more crowded.

This disparity has been especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, with families desperate for a reprieve from isolation indoors, seeking out their close-to-home outdoor spaces. That’s why the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program is so critical. As one of the very few grant programs that focuses on providing resources specifically for underserved urban areas, it’s a critical lifeline for communities looking to improve outdoor access for all families.

This funding will allow communities to:

  • Acquire land to build new parks (or expand existing ones) that meet the needs of children and families in the community.
  • Improve park features like playgrounds, including by making them safer and more accessible for children and caregivers with disabilities.
  • Hire staff to provide programming for children and keep the parks and facilities clean and maintained.

As Secretary Haaland put it in her announcement of this funding earlier today, “Every child in America deserves to have a safe and nearby place to experience the great outdoors.”  

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OAK is excited to see the difference this round of ORLP funding makes for communities across the country, and to continue working with Congress and the Administration to build a future in which every child is able to safely explore and develop relationships with the natural world.

Watch: Rep. Katie Porter and daughter Betsy talk Every Kid Outdoors!

We love this great video from Congresswoman Katie Porter, who shares with her rising fourth grader, Betsy, that they’re going on a vacation to a surprise destination: Zion National Park! Thanks to the Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) program, all fourth graders – including Betsy – and their families get FREE entry to any national park for an entire year. As Rep. Porter proves, it’s a great incentive to plan a family trip to explore the outdoors.

After a year spent inside quarantining, kids, youth and families need access to the outdoors more than ever, and the Every Kid Outdoors program is helping to make it possible. Entrance fees to national parks can be pretty expensive, so the pass is a great perk that helps families of all backgrounds to visit their public lands and waters.

Every Kid Outdoors is an amazing program, and that’s why OAK has been working to expand its reach by asking Congress to fund the Every Kid Outdoors program at $25 million. Investing in EKO now will support program staffing for park agencies and youth-serving nonprofits and would subsidize the high costs for transporting students (especially those from low-income and disabled communities) to public lands and waters.

Congresswoman Katie Porter agrees with us, and along with EKO champions Congressman Joe Neguse and Congresswoman Diana DeGette, sent a letter to their colleagues in Congress asking for full funding for the Every Kid Outdoors program. Check out the letter here!

Have an amazing time at Zion National Park, Congresswoman Porter, Betsy, and family! Thanks for being an incredible advocate for Every Kid Outdoors.