Placemaking In Your National Park

By Devin Brown, Community Program Director, Mississippi Park Connection

Nature is for everyone.

Unfortunately, many of us can tell you stories of times when our presence was questioned and we were made to feel that we did not belong amongst the trees, on the river, or taking in views from a bluff. Oftentimes, the reason people do not feel welcome is because someone has communicated to them that they don’t belong. How can we protect our greatest natural resource unless everyone can have a connection to the Mississippi River? More brokenheartedly, what happens when people feel they don’t belong?

For the past four years, Mississippi Park Connection has worked in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area to create events that center the experiences of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), people with disabilities, Veterans, and LGBTQIA+ through affinity events. This past summer, we added Spanish-language events. These events hold space on the river to make the national park more accessible to historically disenfranchised groups and provide a place in nature to heal because nature is for everyone.

To move forward as stewards of the Earth, we must educate all people about the struggles that many of the global majority face when they are enacting their birthright of being in nature. Our goal for the next year is to not only create programming for affinity groups but also educate that who do not identify as a member of one of these groups that green spaces are INDEED for everyone. We hope one day these curated spaces will not be necessary, but for now, they are mission-critical in connecting all people to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.