The bipartisan Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a broad package of recreation-oriented bills, was introduced in the US House of Representatives. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Coalition welcomes the bill’s introduction and the inclusion of a key Coalition priority, the Outdoors for All Act.
That provision within EXPLORE will give Americans without adequate park access, particularly those living in low-income areas, greater opportunities to experience green spaces and public lands.
Lesley Kane Szynal, chair of the LWCF Coalition, expressed her appreciation to EXPLORE’s lead sponsors, House Natural Resource Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4) and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-3) as well as Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-CA44) and Mike Turner (R-OH-10) who introduced the standalone Outdoors for All Act in February 2023. “We applaud committee leadership and members of both parties who understand the necessity of making sure all Americans have the opportunity to access and enjoy parks and outdoor recreation areas no matter where they live.”
The Outdoors for All provision, if enacted, will codify and enhance the successful Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, a National Park Service competitive grant program funded by LWCF. Its goal is to help communities with little to no access to public outdoor recreation spaces.