On July 21, 2022, the Biden administration relaunched the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR) to advance the administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative, which seeks to improve opportunities for outdoor recreation and access to nature. Interagency leaders include officials from the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Commerce (DOC), and the Department of Defense (DOD). Suspended under the previous administration, FICOR leaders will once again work to improve experiences for Americans and visitors on our nation’s public lands and waters.
To further implement the America the Beautiful Initiative, FICOR is directing its focus to:
- Invest in recreation-based infrastructure opportunities including trails, campgrounds, docks, and visitor centers;
- Support conservation, recreation, and habitat restoration related education and career opportunities;
- Engage with State, Tribal, territorial, and local governments and communities; and
- Promote equitable access to Federal lands and waters.
Some measures the administration has already taken to improve outdoor recreation opportunities are also included in the White House’s July 21, 2022 press release.
Landscape architects design projects that improve human health and the environment, provide safe, equitable access to the outdoors, and protect our nation’s natural, cultural, and historic resources. The profession has a proven track record of successfully designing parks and outdoor recreation spaces that meet the needs of all types of communities nationwide. ASLA’s Government Affairs team continues to work to secure parks and recreation funding and policies that increase the profession’s opportunities.