Courtesy of REI
Data from the Trust for Public Land show the U.S. is rich in enthusiasm for the outdoors, but poor in access and infrastructure—especially for those communities that have been historically and systemically disenfranchised. Over a third of people living in America do not have a public park or space to recreate within a 10-minute walk from home.
“This problem did not just happen,” said Eric Artz, chief executive officer, REI. “It is the result of decades of planning decisions that oftentimes served to further isolate and marginalize underrepresented communities. At REI, we believe everyone should have access to outdoor space wherever they live. That’s why we’re making a long-term commitment to get 100 million people outside in five minutes or less.”
The co-op is launching this initiative on July 12th in Anacostia Park in Washington, D.C. The Anacostia neighborhood is a historically Black community and home to this neighborhood national park. Despite its namesake park, the community has limited access to green space.
This community is emblematic of many others in the country, which have suffered from a systemic loss of access to the outdoors. That’s not an accident. It’s by design.
Anacostia has been impacted by racial and economic inequities—from the establishment of racially segregated recreation areas to the sewage infrastructure that polluted the Anacostia River to the construction of Interstate 295, which cut neighborhoods off from the park that was once accessible to them.
In Anacostia, as will be true everywhere REI introduces Outside in 5, the work is community-led to address its specific needs. Friends of Anacostia Park, with the support of REI and the REI Cooperative Action Fund, is working to reconnect the historically Black community of Anacostia to the national park in their own backyard.
“The legacy of inequitable development hangs over Anacostia Park—with thousands of residents still struggling to access the national park in their backyard,” said Richard Trent, executive director, Friends of Anacostia Park. “But coalitions like ours—that unite engaged citizens, civic-minded corporations and accountable administrators—contain the know-how and wherewithal needed to undo that toxic legacy and expand access to green space to the communities that need it most.”
The co-op will join the Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, author and policy advocate Heather McGhee, and other community leaders in Anacostia Park on the morning of July 12th to unveil a national playbook for Outside in 5. The launch culminates with the Late Skate Summer Event Series, a fair and festival in support of the “rooted at Anacostia Park” program.
Whether you live in a neighborhood with limited access to parks and trails, one without adequate public transit to those places, or even a place with ample—but inequitable—access, there are challenges to recreating outside that every one of us can help address. In the years ahead, REI will bring this work to more communities across the country as part of our broader efforts to inspire actions on climate change and equitable access to the outdoors.
Later this fall, the REI Cooperative Action Fund will announce more than 250 new local nonprofits that will help advance REI’s vision of Outside in 5. While every organization is unique, each:
- Shares the goal of creating a more equitable outdoors
- Centers the unique needs of their community
- Will benefit from the strength of REI’s nationwide community of employees, members and customers to support and amplify these impactful and inspiring organizations
REI is also tapping the power of its 23-million-member community by asking everyone to join the Cooperative Action Network and help pass the Outdoors for All Act, which would help close the nature gap by securing funding for green spaces in underserved communities so everyone can enjoy time outside.
“We do our best work when we do it together,” said Artz. “I’m excited to partner with our employees, members, communities, advocacy groups and governmental organizations across the country in pursuit of this goal. Together, we can remove barriers to a life outside for all.”
For more information, or to find out how you can join this effort, visit rei.com/outside-in-5.
About the REI Co-op
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 23 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 181 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.
