REI Co-Op Commits to Put Americans Within 5 MIN of Outdoor Space

July 21, 2023 

Outdoor gear and clothing retailer, REI Co-op, has launched a multiyear, nationwide initiative to ensure that every American has access to outdoor spaces within five minutes or less from their home. The community-led ‘Outside in 5’ initiative was created in response to data revealing that over 100 million people in the US lack access to natural spaces close to home – something that research shows is important for mental well-being. 

Outdoor recreation carries both psychological and physiological benefits. Nearly 75% of Americans agree that parks are essential to public health and studies show that time spent outside reduces stress, depression and anxiety while promoting better sleep. And a Penn State University study found that one in five Americans have adopted a new outdoor hobby since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, data from the Trust for Public Land shows that the US is poor in access and infrastructure to the outdoors, especially for communities that have been historically and systemically underserved. Over a third of Americans don’t have a public park or space for recreation within a 10-minute walk from home and people of color are three times more likely than the average US citizen to live in nature-deprived neighborhoods. 

“This problem did not just happen,” said Eric Artz, CEO of 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.” 'Outside in 5’ supports local projects and national legislation in pursuit of a goal to get 100 million Americans outside in five minutes or less, no matter their location. REI will also put five dollars from every co-op membership towards its Cooperative Action Fund, which supports organizations and projects that are working towards increased outdoor access for all. 

In the coming months, the Fund will announce more than 250 new local nonprofits that will help advance the initiative. Additionally, REI is encouraging people to join the Cooperative Action Network – encompassing 23 million members – to advocate for passage of the Outdoors for All Act. The legislation intends to close the nature gap by securing funding for green spaces in underserved communities so everyone can experience the benefits of being outside. 

The bipartisan Outdoors for All Act would create a dedicated source of funding for the Outdoors Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program established by the US Congress in 2014. The discretionary grant program supports projects that expand outdoor recreational opportunities in urban and low-income communities across the nation, including new trails, green spaces, playgrounds, cultural gathering spaces and more.

'Outside in 5' launched on July 12 in Anacostia Park in Washington DC – a neighborhood that has limited access to green space and is home to a historically Black community. According to REI, Anacostia has suffered from a systemic loss of access to the outdoors by design and not by accident. The community has been impacted by racial and economic inequities, from the establishment of racially segregated recreation areas to the construction of Interstate 295, which cut neighborhoods off from the park that was once accessible to them. 

REI intends to address the needs of Anacostia and reconnect the community to the national park in their own backyard. The initiative is part of the organization’s broader movement to inspire actions on climate change and equitable access to the outdoors.

Source: Sustainable Brands