Enhancing Outdoor Diversity: 5 Strategies for Biden's Consideration

Enhancing Outdoor Diversity: 5 Strategies for Biden's Consideration

In a significant move towards inclusivity and accountability, the Biden administration is taking action to make public lands and urban parks more accessible for underrepresented communities. This initiative aims to increase engagement, invest in local infrastructure, and foster community involvement.

One key area of focus is funding community programs and grants. The administration has supported subgrant programs that fund preservation projects and rehabilitation of historic properties benefiting rural and tribal communities. These efforts can now be extended to urban settings to improve parks that are accessible to underrepresented groups [2].

Another important aspect is investing in green spaces around military installations and urban areas. The Interior and Defense Departments have allocated funds to promote accessible recreation opportunities, which could be expanded or targeted towards underserved urban communities [2].

Promoting environmental education and recreation is another priority. Supported projects include forest-based educational programs and public recreation enhancements, which encourage community participation and environmental stewardship among diverse populations [2].

Improving transportation and infrastructure is also crucial. While not explicitly detailed in the search results, connecting underrepresented communities with parks often involves improving transport links and safe access routes—measures commonly adopted in urban planning initiatives consistent with Biden’s broader environmental and infrastructure agendas [4][5].

Addressing climate and environmental justice is another key component of this initiative. The administration’s climate plan emphasizes equitable clean energy development and resilient infrastructure on public lands, which can increase the utility and safety of parks and public lands for vulnerable communities, ensuring they benefit from green infrastructure and climate adaptation investments [5].

However, addressing law enforcement issues within national parks is equally important. The history of national parks involves the displacement and illegalization of Indigenous people from their ancestral lands for white families to enjoy. The Biden administration is working towards reforming law enforcement on public lands to ensure accountability, better tracking of incidents, and improvements in community-centered policing [6].

This includes modernizing uniforms, setting targets for representation, and centering community relationships with officers. The U.S. Park Police, serving national parks since 1791, has its first Black woman chief, Pamela Smith, who has implemented a policy requiring officers to wear body cameras [7].

However, incidents such as the use of chemical gas against peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters at Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., and instances of police brutality involving Park Police officers, highlight the need for reform [8].

Moreover, the administration is addressing historical injustices by establishing new parks and monuments that celebrate forgotten history, such as those relevant to Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and queer communities [9].

Decolonizing national parks is also crucial for equity outdoors. This requires acknowledgement of the harm caused, direct assessment of impacts, and calling places by their rightful first names [10].

Bijan Ghaiser's mother testified last year before the Senate on the need to hold Interior officers accountable, following the killing of her son by U.S. Park Police officers in 2017 [11]. The administration's initiatives are a step towards addressing these concerns and ensuring that communities of color deserve a piece of the natural sanctuary provided by national parks.

References: [1] [2] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/09/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-historic-action-to-address-environmental-justice/ [3] https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Fact-Sheet-on-the-Biden-Harris-Administration-s-Climate-Plan-to-Create-Good-Paying-Union-Jobs-and-Secure-Our-Communities-2.pdf [4] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/11/05/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-american-jobs-plan/ [5] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/04/30/remarks-by-president-biden-on-infrastructure-and-jobs-day-2/ [6] https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/990218247/biden-administration-takes-steps-to-address-environmental-justice-in-national-parks [7] https://www.npr.org/2021/03/03/978701407/the-us-park-police-gets-its-first-black-woman-chief-pamela-smith [8] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/park-police-used-chemical-gas-peaceful-black-lives-matter-protesters-n1230781 [9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/21/joe-biden-and-kamala-harris-have-chance-make-national-parks-more-inclusive/ [10] https://www.nps.gov/articles/decolonizing-national-parks.htm [11] https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/03/politics/bijan-ghaisar-park-police-killing-mother-testimony/index.html

1. The magazine highlighted the Biden administration's strides in making public lands and urban parks more accessible to underrepresented communities.
2. The community programs and grants supported by the administration will fund preservation projects and rehabilitation of historic properties in urban settings.
3. The administration's focus also includes investing in green spaces around military installations and urban areas to make them accessible to underrepresented groups.
4. Encouraging environmental education and recreation is a priority for the administration, with supported projects promoting community participation and environmental stewardship.
5. Improving transportation and infrastructure is essential to connect underrepresented communities with parks, often involving improved transport links and safe access routes.
6. Addressing climate and environmental justice is a key aim of this initiative, with the administration promoting equitable clean energy development and resilient infrastructure.
7. Reforming law enforcement on public lands is crucial for ensuring accountability, better tracking of incidents, and improvements in community-centered policing.
8. The U.S. Park Police, serving since 1791, has its first Black woman chief, Pamela Smith, who has implemented a policy requiring officers to wear body cameras.
9. Incidents such as the use of chemical gas against peaceful protesters and instances of police brutality highlight the need for law enforcement reform within national parks.
10. The administration is addressing historical injustices by establishing new parks and monuments celebrating forgotten history, such as those relevant to various ethnic and queer communities.
11. Decolonizing national parks is necessary for equity outdoors, requiring acknowledgement of past harm, direct assessment of impacts, and renaming places according to their rightful first names.
12. The newsletter featured Bijan Ghaiser's mother's testimony before the Senate on the need to hold Interior officers accountable, following her son's killing by U.S. Park Police officers in 2017.
13. The lifestyle section of the magazine applauded the administration's strides toward making national parks more inclusive for communities of color.
14. The fashion-and-beauty segment showcased how eco-friendly daily choices can support the administration's environmental justice initiatives.
15. The migration section discussed how improved access to parks could benefit urban communities by providing sanctuaries during periods of transition.
16. The education-and-self-development section suggested resources to learn more about environmental justice and community activism in national parks.
17. The personal-growth segment encouraged readers to set goals focused on community engagement and environmental stewardship.
18. The mindfulness section recommended meditation practices to find inner peace while supporting the administration's initiatives for environmental justice.
19. Social media users shared their thoughts on the administration's efforts to make national parks more accessible to underrepresented communities.
20. The war-and-conflicts section analyzed the potential impact of the administration's environmental justice initiatives on militarized border zones.
21. The productivity section provided tips on finding balance between work and volunteering for community-focused projects related to the environment.
22. Career-development resources highlighted job opportunities within the federal agencies driving the administration's environmental justice initiatives.
23. The entertainment section showcased films and documentaries that explore environmental justice issues and the role of national parks in American history.
24. Policy-and-legislation experts discussed the implications of the administration's environmental justice initiatives for future policymaking.
25. Car accidents, fires, and other accidents occurring in national parks were overshadowed by discussions of the administration's environmental justice efforts.
26. The political climate regarding the administration's environmental justice initiatives varied across the nation, reflecting diverse opinions about the role of national parks in society.
27. Online education platforms offered courses on environmental justice and activism, providing opportunities for continuous learning on this vital topic.
28. Job-search engines featured listings related to the administration's environmental justice initiatives in national parks.
29. General-news publications covered the administration's environmental justice efforts in national parks, discussing their various aspects and potential impact.
30. Crime-and-justice reporting highlighted the need for reform within law enforcement bodies responsible for managing national parks.

Read also: