REI’s New Effort To Close The ‘Nature Gap’ Launches In Anacostia Park
Image via DCist.
The brand name “REI” may conjure images of people biking or hiking in far-flung wild places, surrounded by craggy mountains, and kitted out in pricey technical gear. But in a new initiative, the company is trying to make sure access to the outdoors isn’t limited to people who can afford to shop in their stores. The company is launching a national initiative to help connect people to nature close to home, starting in Anacostia Park in D.C.’s wards 7 and 8.
REI is supporting the nonprofit Friends of Anacostia Park with a $200,000-a-year grant for the next three years for environmental restoration programs. This summer, the company is also helping to fund events in the park, including a free go-go concert last night and a series of late-night roller skating events.
“For a grassroots organization like ours, that sort of sustaining support is really, really huge, it goes a long way,” says Richard Trent, executive director of Friends of Anacostia Park. “That’s going to translate to more green jobs created for Black and brown residents, more culturally relevant activations in Anacostia Park, more improvements to the natural and built environment of the park.”