Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz visited Arizona and Tennessee this week to emphasize the significant investments from the Department of the Interior’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program. These investments are aimed at expanding and rehabilitating urban parks, with a focus on increasing outdoor access, creating safer spaces, enhancing visitor experiences, and improving accessibility.
The ORLP program was established in 2014 and is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). It supports urban communities in creating new outdoor recreation spaces, revitalizing existing parks, and fostering connections between people and nature in economically underserved areas. The program aligns with the Biden-Harris administration's America the Beautiful initiative, which focuses on conservation efforts addressing nature and climate crises while improving equitable access to outdoor spaces.
In Tucson, Assistant Secretary Estenoz participated in a community roundtable with Mayor Regina Romero to discuss $4 million in awards for the city. They highlighted efforts by the Biden-Harris administration to improve access to outdoor spaces and strengthen local economies. Projects receiving funding include Jacobs Park, which will see improvements such as a softball complex, skate park, soccer fields, futsal courts, pickleball courts, stormwater infrastructure upgrades, and tree planting. Joaquin Murrieta Park will benefit from a splashpad funded through the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program.
In Memphis, Assistant Secretary Estenoz toured Gooch Park with local leaders. The park received nearly $3.4 million for enhancements including a turf football field with lighting, walking track, playground improvements, and pool rehabilitation. These upgrades aim to provide recreational opportunities for North Memphis residents.
During her Memphis visit, Assistant Secretary Estenoz also underscored the Department’s commitment to preserving Black history by visiting historical lynching sites under evaluation by the National Park Service’s Memphis Area Lynching Locations Special Resource Study.
