Whatever you do outdoors, chances are, you’ve seen more people than ever joining you the last few years. More and more people are discovering the mental and physical benefits our great outdoors provide, especially during challenging times.
As our population grows, as more people get outside, we need to provide more opportunities for communities to access safe and welcoming outdoor areas. We need more trails, more parks, more picnic tables, more water access, and, quite frankly, more toilets!
But we also need to recognize the impacts that recreation has on our non-human neighbors. We need to protect and restore lands for the plants and animals who share these wild places with us. They must flourish, even as our populations grow, so our ecosystems remain healthy and vibrant.
In times of uncertainty and change, we all look to comforting constants to provide us solace and respite. For us at the Coalition—and for most Washingtonians—that involves the outdoors. Whether it’s walking the dog at a local park or escaping into the wilderness on a backpacking trip, these opportunities to commune with nature are a unique and special part of what makes Washington such a wonderful place to live and play.
Robust funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is essential to ensuring that legacy continues into the future.
COVID19 brought a surge in recreation on trails, parks, state lands, and beyond—a trend that continues today.This surge obviously impacts your recreation experience (like trying to find a parking spot at a trailhead!) But it also impacts the plants, animals, and the land itself. Increased investments to keep up with this surge are critical.
The WWRP remains the largest source for conservation and recreation funding in Washington. We need your help to ensure it continues to fund critical projects all across the state.
We are in difficult economic times with inflation and increased costs. That makes the WWRP even more crucial to ensure we keep up with this demand. Both in providing new recreation opportunities and conserving and maintaining what we already have.
Sign on to tell the Governor and Legislature that you support $150 million for Washington’s great outdoors today!
Here are our full 2024 Legislative Priorities and how they did this last session.