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Hear it again: barriers to recreation

caption: Wildfire smoke dims the sun above the White River in Olympic National Park on Sept. 11, 2020.
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Wildfire smoke dims the sun above the White River in Olympic National Park on Sept. 11, 2020.
KUOW Photo / John Ryan

A recent study from the Black Washingtonians Workgroup on Outdoor Recreation found fewer than 1.5% of state park visitors are Black.

How can Washington improve access to its famed outdoors?

Soundside's Libby Denkmann spoke with Reco Bembry, principal consultant for Bembry Consulting and the lead facilitator for the Black Washingtonians Workgroup on Outdoor Recreation.

Bembry outlined several major barriers that communities of color face when recreating in Washington state, and how the group is working in tandem with the Washington state Parks Commission and the Commission on African American Affairs to make sure people of color feel welcomed, safe and supported.

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