Program on the Environment

Public lands are designed to be resources that all can enjoy, regardless of background. However, many marginalized groups are underrepresented in the outdoors, due to social, cultural, and economic barriers to recreation. The aim of this study was to determine who uses Washington Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) managed lands, and if these users reflect the racial diversity of the Washington public. Additionally, outreach efforts were done to make recreation more accessible to underserved groups. This project revolved around the creation of a statewide survey of WA DNR users, to gain an understanding of who is currently coming to the agency’s managed lands. Additionally, based off the survey findings, foreign language information resources were created, and in-community outreach was conducted with racial minority communities in Seattle. Overall, the survey results demonstrated that WA DNR users do not reflect the racial makeup of Washington State, with approximately 8% of survey respondents indicating being racial minorities and 92% of respondents self-reporting as white. This statistic proved similar to broader demographic measurements of federal public land users in the Northwest. However, in-community outreach and foreign language information resources proved to be a promising strategy for land managers to reach underserved communities. Public lands are meant to be accessible to all, and it is necessary that land managers ensure everyone can use these landscapes, for the health and welfare of marginalized communities. Furthermore, increasing recreation access to communities of color is crucial for the future of public lands, in a quickly diversifying U.S.