The Departments of the Interior and Defense have announced a collaborative effort to invest $15 million in conserving green spaces and enhancing recreational access around military installations. This initiative, known as the Readiness and Recreation Initiative, is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Department of Defense's (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program. It aims to support conservation projects in Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Virginia.
The DOD REPI Program works to preserve military missions by establishing cost-sharing agreements with various entities including federal agencies, state and local governments, and private conservation organizations. These efforts help avoid land use conflicts near military bases, address environmental restrictions affecting military activities, and bolster installation resilience.
"The Interior Department is committed to preserving our outdoor spaces and enhancing equitable access wherever we can," stated Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior. She added that partnering with the Department of Defense will "increase recreational opportunities around military bases, help sustain native wildlife habitats and build climate resilience."
Brenden Owens, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installation and Environment emphasized the commitment to service members' health: "By partnering with the National Park Service through the Readiness & Recreation Initiative, we honor this commitment by funding the protection of new parks and development of public outdoor recreation infrastructure."
This investment will improve access to outdoor recreation for Americans living near military installations.
The 2024 project locations include:
- Sherman Creek Park in Florida with a proposed funding of $660,000
- Westgate Park in Indiana with $2,324,000
- Mississippi River Overlook Park in Minnesota with $2,500,000
- Weymouth Woods State Natural Area in North Carolina with $1,700,000
- Robinson-Baker's Creek in Virginia with $276,000
For more details on this initiative visit the REPI webpage.
