New report finds 1 in 5 veterans in U.S. lack access to nature

ATLANTA, GA — A new Sierra Club report, titled “Roots of Resilience: Veteran Access to Nature Report Card”, reveals that at least one in five U.S. veterans lack access to nearby parks, forests, and natural spaces — despite a plethora of studies proving that access to nature improves people’s physical and mental health. 

• Read the report: https://www.sierraclub.org/reports/military-outdoors/roots-of-resilience
• Download the PDF: https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/roots-of-resilience-report.pdf
• View the maps in high resolution here

“Veterans risk their lives in service to this country. Whether they’re returning home from deployment, or serving domestically, the U.S. must remove barriers preventing veterans from accessing the healing power of nature, and uphold the implicit promise that veterans will be cared for by the country they served to defend,” said Sherman Neal II, Deputy Director of Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors program. 

KEY FINDINGS

The study analyzed eight major U.S. cities — Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis; Denver; Philadelphia; Detroit; Jacksonville; Las Vegas; and Atlanta — and found widespread inequities in access to nature, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Final rankings considered a number of factors: Air quality, walkability, public transit, and access for particular neighborhoods. 

Veterans in Atlanta and Jacksonville fared the worst, with more than 40% of veterans lacking access to green spaces within walking distance of their homes. While cities like Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis earned top marks for green space availability and access to public transit, every city studied suffered from high levels of air pollution and uneven park distribution — conditions that can limit outdoor activity for veterans with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

CITY GRADES

• Washington, D.C. (B+): Best overall access. Only 3% of veterans lack access to nearby green spaces. Poor air quality remains a concern but is improving. (map)
• Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN (B): Good overall access. Only 1% of veterans lack access to nearby green spaces. Poor air quality reduced overall grade. (map)
• Denver, CO (C): Good overall access. Only 2% of veterans lack access to nearby green spaces. Moderate scores on walkability and biking, lower scores on public transit. Chronic smog and social/geographic inequities in park access impacted overall grade. (map)
• Philadelphia, PA (C): One of the most expansive urban park systems in the U.S., yet more than 20% of veterans lack access to nearby green spaces. Poor air quality reduced overall grade, but is improving. (map)
• Detroit, MI (D): Park system is improving, but 20% of veterans lack access to nearby green spaces. High rates of air pollution and poor walkability and transit scores impacted overall grade. (map)
• Jacksonville, FL (D): Excellent air quality, but 40% of veterans lack access to nearby green spaces. Uneven distribution of parks across the city and very low walkability and public transit scores impacted overall grade. (map)
• Las Vegas, NV (D-): Despite being surrounded by public land, 30% of veterans lack access to nearby green spaces. Chronic pollution and poor walkability and transit scores impacted overall grade. (map)
• Atlanta, GA (F): Worst overall access. 43% of veterans lack access to nearby green spaces. Social inequities in park access, severe air pollution, and low walkability impacted overall score. (map)

The report warns that proposed budget cuts to the National Park Service and the Land and Water Conservation Fund, along with attacks on the Clean Air Act, threaten to deepen the crisis. These cuts would further limit veterans’ access to outdoor spaces that support healing and community connection.

The report calls for local and state governments to prioritize funding for parks and public transit, for the federal government to fully fund the agencies that connect veterans to nature, and for leaders at every level of government to address poor air quality that disproportionately impacts military communities.