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Colorado urges outdoor recreation over Black Friday shopping

Shopping substitute: Free entry to parks
Colorado public land agencies are offering free access to state parks Friday to encourage outdoor recreation, a rebuff to Black Friday pursuits. Battle Rock Charter School students, teachers and parents hike through Sand Canyon during a daylong hiking trip in 2012.

DENVER – The trend to reject the traditional post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy that is Black Friday continues in Colorado with “Fresh Air Friday,” a campaign to encourage use of the state’s parks, rather than big-box retailers.

“On the day after Thanksgiving, we now have the choice of running around indoors or enjoying our spectacular Colorado outdoors for free,” said Luis Benitez, director of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office are offering free access to all 42 Colorado state parks on Friday.

Colorado residents and visitors can spend the day at a state park while GOCO picks up the tab. Recreation opportunities at state parks include miles of trails, scenic views, wildlife viewing and fishing, among other activities.

The announcement comes after outdoor retailer REI announced it would close all 143 of its stores, along with its distribution centers and headquarters, on Black Friday. The company is going to pay all 12,000 employees to take the day off.

“We think that Black Friday has gotten out of hand so we are choosing to invest in helping people get outside with loved ones this holiday,” wrote REI president and chief executive Jerry Stritzke in a letter.

“The last Friday of the month, commonly known as ‘Black Friday,’ has a new designation this year in Colorado,” said Parks and Wildlife Director Bob Broscheid.

“We hope this offer inspires families in particular to make an outdoor adventure at a Colorado state park not only a Thanksgiving tradition for their kids but a regular activity all year long,” added Lise Aangeenbrug, GOCO executive director. “Outdoor experiences benefit kids in so many ways that we are committed to helping making the outdoors as accessible as possible to kids of all ages.”

pmarcus@durangoherald.com



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