On a recent visit to San Diego, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland emphasized the Department of the Interior’s endeavors to conserve, protect, and increase access to public lands and urban green spaces.
“For the 80% of Americans who live in or near cities, urban green spaces provide vital access to nature and outdoor recreation, advancing environmental justice while also boosting local economies. Through key initiatives like 'America the Beautiful,' we are working to ensure that every community has a meaningful chance to engage with the outdoors,” Haaland said. “I believe strongly that getting young people in touch with nature early and often is key to building long-term relationships between communities and their surroundings. If we can help more people access nature – we will help lift up the next generation of stewards for this Earth.”
Haaland met with municipal leaders and environmental activists during the trip to examine the significance of an infrastructure law, which will enhance climate resiliency and infrastructure projects to strengthen communities and safeguard the environment, according to a news release.
Haaland also underlined the 'America the Beautiful initiative,' which seeks to conserve, connect and restore 30% of lands and waters by 2030 with the federal government working with local agencies, leaders, and Tribes to create projects that are locally led to achieve the aims of 'America the Beautiful.'
The program is a “decade-long challenge to pursue a locally led and voluntary, nationwide effort to conserve, connect, and restore the lands, waters and wildlife upon which we all depend,” the release stated.
To culminate the visit, local leaders and Haaland visited Beyer Park, which obtained $8.5 million from California's Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program for construction of the park in San Ysidro, the Times of San Diego reported.
San Diego Council-member Vivian Moreno said on Twitter that it was an honor to meet Haaland and show her the future site of the park.
