Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Sens. Alex Padilla and Susan Collins reintroduced the Outdoors for All Act in Congress. The act, if passed, would codify the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, a National Park Service grant program aimed at helping economically disadvantaged communities with little to no access to public outdoor recreation spaces. It has funded dozens of projects, including the Belle Isle Park Athletic Complex in Detroit, Michigan, and Three Mile Creek Greenway Project in Mobile, Alabama. Sierra Club has been advocating for funding for the ORLP program over the last decade, endorsed the legislation in 2021 when it was first introduced, and is endorsing it again in its reintroduction.
In response, Sierra Club representatives released the following statements:
“Sierra Club applauds the reintroduction of the Outdoors For All Act and the impact it will have creating safe green spaces, reinvigorating local parks and creating outdoor recreation opportunities,” said Robert Scott, the Associate Director of Federal Policy with the Outdoors for All campaign. “This is an important step in closing the nature equity gap for communities of color and in our most underserved communities. With this act, these communities will be able to rely on stable grant funding to support projects that will give more people the opportunity to benefit from the positive impacts nature provides.
“The Outdoors Alliance for Kids is pleased to see the reintroduction of the Outdoors for All Act,” said Julia Hurwit, Campaign Manager for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids. “We know that communities of color and low-income communities do not have the same opportunities and access to nature and green spaces. This bill brings us one step closer to closing this equity gap, and will allow for more kids and families to benefit from the outdoors, both physically and mentally.”
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.