REI grant Projects
Graffiti & Trash Removal Projects
Natural Restorations Dedicated Restoration Team
3,961 square feet of graffiti removed & 10,460 pounds of trash removed from Arizona’s outdoor recreation & wilderness areas
In 2019, REI employees and members voted for Natural Restorations to receive grant funding to expand our Graffiti Removal Program with our Dedicated Restoration Team and partner with us on a National Public Lands Day Cleanup and our 3rd annual Green Friday (our version of Black Friday) Lower Salt River Cleanup. The REI grant expands our Graffiti Removal Program by providing funding to put our Dedicated Restoration Team to work and purchase much needed equipment, supplies, and safety gear.
Graffiti detracts from the outdoor experience and makes those who love the outdoors very upset when they see it. We regularly receive emails and messages on social media from members of the outdoor community who are upset by the graffiti painted in outdoor spaces. Parents tell us they don’t want their kids to see profanity or anything else painted on rocks and boulders when they take them on a hike.
Our Projects will have a lasting impact on these outdoor spaces; everyone visiting them can experience and enjoy nature without seeing graffiti that takes away from the outdoor experience. Outdoor user groups benefiting from these projects include hiking, climbing, biking, camping, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, bird watching, equestrians, and residents and visitors to Arizona looking to explore outdoor spaces. Making lasting impacts on Arizona’s outdoor spaces and spending time in nature is also beneficial to the Veterans working on our Dedicated Restoration Team.
Thank you to everyone at REI for awarding us with this grant. Thank you for helping us make a lasting impact on Arizona’s outdoor spaces!
