What's Happening? Underrepresented communities of color, including immigrant communities, encounter numerous barriers when attempting to access the best America has to offer: our National Parks and other Federal Recreational Lands. Some of these barriers include distance, as National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands are often several hours away from urban areas, where people of color are largely concentrated; cost, as it can be expensive to recreate in nature; lack of familiarity with the National Park System and outdoor recreational activities; and technology, as more and more National Parks, National Forests and BLM Lands are requiring recreationists to make reservations ahead of time, often using difficult-to-navigate, English-only websites or apps. Recently, another barrier to access for underrepresented communities has emerged: a trend among National Parks to require cashless payment of entry and other fees. Among underrepresented communities, and the elderly as well, many individuals are unbanked, lack credit, or simply prefer to use cash. | |
What Can I Do? Friends of the Inyo, in partnership with social and environmental justice nonprofit GreenLatinos and 66 other organizations delivered a community sign-on letter on April 24, during National Park Week, calling for the U.S. Department of Interior, which oversees the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to: -
 Provide an America the Beautiful National Parks & Recreational Lands Pass as a “Welcome to America” gift to each newly naturalized citizen at swearing-in ceremonies; -
 Consider the barriers that cashless entry to National Parks and other recreational sites impose on unbanked individuals; and -
 Cooperate to host swearing-in ceremonies for naturalized citizens on public land recreation sites. As detailed in the sign-on letter, the Eastern Sierra boasts plenty of such beautiful places. Empowering our new fellow Americans to enjoy the very best our nation has to offer, our perpetually protected, expansive and scenic public lands and waters, would make them feel most welcome and nurtured by their newly adopted homeland; help dismantle the barriers that communities of color, low-income communities, and immigrants face when attempting to access National Parks and other federal recreational lands; encourage their appreciation for America’s beautiful public lands; promote patriotism and pride; and help foster new allies in environmental conservation for the sake of future generations of Americans. Sign the petition using the button below to keep the support and momentum going behind this effort! Join the hundreds who have already signed! | | | |
