Outdoor industry seeks Congress' help for recreation infrastructure

Outdoor industry companies like Patagonia, L.L. Bean and The North Face, as well as local outdoor recreation organizations such as Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, have called on Congress to invest in recreation infrastructure to help manage outdoor recreation hotspots amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organized by the Outdoor Industry Association, 60 companies wrote a letter to congressional leadership earlier this month requesting they pass the Great American Outdoors Act, according to The Hill newspaper.

The purpose of the Great American Outdoors Act, which was introduced in March and has bipartisan support from over 50 senators, is to address the maintenance problems caused in every part of the outdoor recreation system that have been compounded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would provide permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and primarily address deferred maintenance projects administered by the National Parks Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Education.

“Our system of parks and public lands being open for public use is critical for small and large retailers and outdoor businesses, along with the supply chain that serves them,” the letter said. “Plus, these natural places bring quality of life to communities across the nation. Every part of this system has been interrupted by COVID-19, impacting the health and wellness of individuals, companies and communities.”

The letter also calls for the prioritization of transportation funding as well as infrastructure policies that help to reduce carbon emissions.

A previous letter in support of passing the Great American Outdoors Act was signed by about 800 organizations, including Trails Utah and the Utah Restaurant Association, and sent to congressional leadership on May 11. They emphasized that the direction of up to $9.5 billion over the next five years to address maintenance needs within the parks system, public land agencies and Bureau of Indian Education schools would ensure “protection of and access to irreplaceable lands and local recreation opportunities.”