New Mexico pioneers effort to make the outdoors more accessible
Middle school students from Albuquerque visit Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area, New Mexico, on a trip with Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions
Mason Cummings, TWS
First-of-its-kind Outdoor Equity Fund offers recreation grants to help get underserved youth outdoors
As part of a proposal that would establish the Division of Outdoor Recreation in New Mexico’s state government, legislators have included a measure to simultaneously create the Outdoor Equity Fund, a program that would provide micro-grants to help fund outdoor recreation and education programs that serve low-income youth across the state.
The Outdoor Equity Fund sends a message to New Mexico’s youth that they are not forgotten, that they are worth investing in, and that they deserve to benefit from New Mexico’s vast system of public lands and waters.
New Mexico boasts some of the nation’s most outstanding wildlands, but low-income communities and communities of color may not get to enjoy these amazing places, some of which are practically right in their backyard. In our state, nearly every metric that points to a good quality of life for a child falls below national standards. While our state ranks as one of the poorest, what we do have in abundance are public lands, wildlife and natural resources that everyone should get to enjoy.
The Outdoor Equity Fund sends a message to New Mexico’s youth that they are not forgotten, that they are worth investing in, and that they deserve to benefit from New Mexico’s vast system of public lands and waters.
The Outdoor Equity Fund will invest in the state’s youth by offering micro-grants to local governments, Native American communities and non-profits that connect young people to nature through outdoor recreation and education programs. These programs can range from after-school hiking clubs to summer fishing programs. Grants issued through the fund could be used to pay for outdoor gear, staff time, transportation, food and more. As part of our partnership with the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, we recently joined nearly 50 state and national organizations in signing a letter supporting the establishment of the Outdoor Equity Fund.
More: Increasing access to public lands in New Mexico
Perhaps the most exciting thing about the Outdoor Equity Fund is that it offers a model for other states to follow in addressing a much broader set of issues. The fund helps break down the economic barriers to outdoor recreation by offsetting program costs. There's no question that outdoor recreation has positive impacts for the physical and mental health of those who get to enjoy it, and the Outdoor Equity Fund directly addresses that.
New Mexico launches newfound focus on outdoor recreation
The Outdoor Equity Fund is part of a larger suite of proposals to take full advantage of New Mexico’s outdoor recreation potential. The newly proposed Office of Outdoor Recreation would allocate a robust staff and resources to promote public lands and outdoor recreation opportunities in the state, including helping to create local, small businesses in rural parts of the state. Currently, the outdoor recreation economy generates $9.9 billion in consumer spending annually in New Mexico, but it is still considered an area of untapped potential—and a point of emphasis for new governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Our Urban to Wild team is excited to see New Mexico break down barriers to the outdoors and invest fully in outdoor recreation while recognizing the need to make access as equitable and accessible as possible. The Outdoor Equity Fund is a priority goal for the Urban to Wild New Mexico team. We also look forward to working with community groups, elected officials, the city of Albuquerque and federal land managers to develop a comprehensive effort that supports increased access to parks, open space and federal public lands. To learn more about the story of the Outdoor Equity Fund, visit our partners at Nuestra Tierra and listen to the latest episode of the Nuestra Tierra podcast.
