Investment in outdoor recreation will pay off
Last weekend, my two young sons and I threw our fishing rods and some snacks in our backpacks and rode our bikes down the Paseo del Bosque Trail to Tingley Beach near downtown Albuquerque. Turns out the boys were more interested in watching the ducks than waiting for a fish to bite, but it was a fun adventure close to home.
Thanks to investment from the Land and Water Conservation Fund — a program The Wilderness Society has championed for decades — we have this amazing place right in the heart of the city where so many go to walk, bike and picnic with loved ones.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of the most important conservation tools for protecting public lands, safeguarding natural resources and ensuring outdoor recreational opportunities exist for all — today and in the future.
Since 1965, New Mexico has seen more than 1,200 Land and Water Conservation Fund projects brought to life in all 33 counties — everything from building new parks, open space and trails to rodeo grounds and ball fields. With the 2019 passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, New Mexico now receives more money from the fund than ever before at roughly $3.2 million annually.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund holds tremendous promise for New Mexicans, our communities and economy. Research shows time spent in nature improves mental, physical and spiritual health, while combating chronic illness, stress and anxiety. Not only does outdoor recreation bolster individual health but community well-being, cohesion and prosperity. Equally important, the outdoor recreation industry is a key economic driver in New Mexico and across the country.
According to recent data by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation boosted New Mexico’s economy by $2.4 billion in 2022 and accounted for 1.9% of state GDP, including close to 28,000 jobs. This is nothing short of significant.
Simply put, outdoor recreation is good for us. And today we are presented with the opportunity to make even bigger waves for outdoor recreation in our beloved Land of Enchantment.
Advocates are coming together this legislative session to pass Senate Bill 169, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Changes bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. Steven Neville, R-Aztec. This important bipartisan legislation will address barriers that prevent outdoor infrastructure investment from touching down in New Mexico communities.
Most important, it will inject $10 million of state funding into the New Mexico Land and Water Conservation Fund Supplemental Fund, allowing tribal and rural communities to better access the capital required to develop parks and open spaces. Access to this capital will enable more communities to meet the federal match required for all fund projects, meaning more outdoor infrastructure in our state.
In that same vein, it will bump the federal match to 50% and the population cap to 65,000, so the Land and Water Conservation Fund can better reach communities that need it most. The proposed legislation will also ensure New Mexico State Parks is eligible for up to a 7% match to more effectively manage the program and disburse grant funds on time.
At The Wilderness Society, we believe that all people deserve equitable access to the many benefits of nature. The Land and Water Conservation Fund Changes bill gets us closer to that vision by bringing outdoor recreational opportunities closer to home for more New Mexicans.
Contact your legislator today and tell them to vote “yes” in support of Senate Bill 169 to strengthen communities, economies and outdoor recreation for all in New Mexico.