Kristine Stratton, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) issued the following statement:
NRPA congratulates Deb Haaland on her historic confirmation as Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI). We look forward to working together to strengthen the impact of DOI programs that fund equitable park and recreation infrastructure, increase access to the outdoors and green spaces, and expand the significant benefits of local parks and recreation for all people.
We are confident that under Secretary Haaland’s leadership, equity and environmental justice will be at the center of DOI’s management of more than 400 million acres of public lands. She has been a longtime champion for public parks, as well as a supporter of funding for increased access to local parks and recreation through her leadership in Congress. She also has been a longtime supporter of the Great American Outdoors Act and has confirmed she will seek the mandatory $900 million in funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Additionally, Secretary Haaland has championed the Outdoors for All Act, which recently passed in the House of Representatives and will expand access to outdoor recreation areas in underserved urban communities.
Secretary Haaland will be the first Native American to hold a cabinet secretary position, and as Secretary of the Department of the Interior, she will oversee how the nation’s lands and waters are used and managed. Her background and perspective will be a great value as we at NRPA continue our mission to ensure that everyone has access to the many health, environmental and social benefits of parks and recreation.
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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.