Sens. Alex Padilla and Susan Collins reintroduced the Outdoors for All Act in the U.S. Senate. They were joined by Representatives Nannette Barragan (D-CA44) and Michael Turner (R-OH10) who introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bipartisan act, if passed, would codify the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, a nationally competitive federal grant program, through the National Park Service, that provides new or significantly improved recreation opportunities in economically disadvantaged communities with little to no access to public outdoor recreation spaces.
Trust for Public Land has been a leader in the creation of the ORLP program and has advocated for increased funding for the ORLP program over the last decade. TPL endorsed the Outdoors For All Act in 2021 when it was first introduced, and we proudly express our support for the newly reintroduced legislation.
Statement from Bill Lee, President of Trust for Public Land Action Fund and Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations at Trust for Public Land on the reintroduction of the Outdoors For All Act:
“Increasing equitable access to the outdoors for all communities helps people lead healthier, happier, more prosperous lives. Quality parks and green spaces are fundamental for sustaining equitable, resilient communities and it’s imperative these spaces, and the benefits they provide are available to everyone, regardless of zip code.
"In the U.S., 100 million people, including 28 million children, don’t have access to a park within a 10-minute walk of home and parks serving lower income communities are four times smaller and yet are strained by having to serve four times more people per acre than parks serving high-income households. The Outdoors for All Act and codifying a program like the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program are critical to closing this park equity gap.
"Trust for Public Land applauds the reintroduction of the Outdoors For All Act and thanks Senators Padilla and Collins, along with Representatives Barragan and Turner for their leadership. The impact this bill will have reinvesting in our local parks, reinvigorating our communities and creating outdoor recreation opportunities for all Americans is immense."