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Colorado can lead in making outdoors accessible to all

Gabriel Otero
Jerry Otero

There are many lessons to be learned from the pandemic, a relentless virus that in its wake exposed stark inequalities in our nation. Neighborhoods in Colorado with the worst pollution, poor public health and limited access to outdoor spaces have been hit harder by the virus, with dire repercussions. The rawness of the tragic statistics, coupled with long-established study of public health disparities in communities of color including asthma, diabetes and chronic respiratory issues associated with inequity, has given cause to build a coalition to better our state. We need to invest in communities to ensure that people from all walks of life can improve their health by experiencing Colorado’s natural spaces.

Here's the issue: marginalized populations, particularly people of color and low median income homes, face real barriers in accessing natural spaces and public lands. These barriers, coupled cumulatively with environmental burdens, have a negative effect on educational outcomes, public and mental health, and economic prosperity. The barriers are socioeconomic; cultural; time and proximity to outdoor spaces; feeling welcomed and safe; the lack of diversity in land management agencies; and the discounting of contributions by people of color to the history of public lands.

The statistics regarding visitation to public lands show significant challenges. The U.S. Forest Service found that African Americans represent 13% of the population but only one percent of national forest visitors. In national parks, Latinos account for only 9% of visitors but nearly 20% of the population. This disparity is disproportionate in its impact on communities of color, but even in western Colorado, in our hometown of Fruita, we went to school with many kids who never got the opportunity to experience the vast public lands just outside our doors – unless it was on a school trip.

Laws that historically excluded certain groups from natural spaces still linger and influence the outdoor access disparity. The remnants of redlining – the discriminatory rules that financially segregated many American cities based on race and ethnicity – are still affecting our state. Communities of color lack infrastructure, trees and parks, access to health care, and adequate transportation, and are closer to sources of pollution. Today, 75% of census tracts with large numbers of families of color live in nature-deprived places, while less than 40% of white families with children do.

Black and Latino families are the most nature-deprived of all races and ethnicities, yet are becoming a larger part of our state’s economy by the day. According to a recent study, by 2050 an estimated 48% of the state’s labor force will consist of people of color.

How do we fix this disparity? Support the leadership of state Rep. Leslie Herod and Senate President Leroy Garcia by encouraging your representative to support House Bill 21-1318, a bill to establish Colorado’s Outdoor Equity Grant Program. The effort, led by a coalition of more than 60 local, state and national organizations, aims to give young Coloradans more equitable access to conservation, environmental, and outdoor experiences and education. The goal: to reduce the barriers that prevent impacted communities from accessing nature. We will accomplish this by investing in new and existing programs and organizations already working to build bridges to the outdoors for youths with limited opportunities. The result? A win for marginalized populations and improved public health and growth for our state.

In doing so, we also build an understanding that people of color and families with low median incomes enjoy the outdoors just like anyone else and will benefit from access to natural spaces. We are better as a state when we lead and show the world that Colorado’s outdoors are inclusive to all.

Jerry and Gabriel Otero live in western Colorado and are fourth-generation Coloradans. Jerry serves as the legislative and policy director for the Grand Canyon Trust. Gabriel is the Colorado Plateau Representative for The Wilderness Society. Both are members of Colorado Next 100 and Green Latinos.