8 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



The Potomac 



The river rich in history and memory which flows by our Nation's 

 Capital should serve as a model of scenic and recreation values for 

 the entire country. To meet this objective I am asking the Secretary 

 of the Interior to review the Potomac River Basin development plan 

 now under review by the Chief of Army Engineers, and to work with 

 the affected States and local governments, the District of Columbia, 

 and interested Federal agencies to prepare a program for my 

 consideration. 



A program must be devised which will 



(a) Clean up the river and keep it clean, so it can be used for 

 boating, swimming, and fishing; 



( b ) Protect its natural beauties by the acquisition of scenic ease- 

 ments, zoning, or other measures; 



( c ) Provide adequate recreational facilities ; and 



(d) Complete the presently authorized George Washington 

 Memorial Parkway on both banks. 



I hope action here will stimulate and inspire similar efforts by 

 State and local governments on other urban rivers and waterfronts, 

 such as the Hudson in New York. They are potentially the greatest 

 single source of pleasure for those who live in most of our metropolitan 

 areas. 



Trails 



The forgotten outdoorsmen of today are those who like to walk, 

 hike, ride horseback, or bicycle. For them we must have trails as 

 well as highways. Nor should motor vehicles be permitted to tyran- 

 nize the more leisurely human traffic. 



Old and young alike can participate. Our doctors recommend 

 and encourage such activity for fitness and fun. 



I am requesting, therefore, that the Secretary of the Interior work 

 with his colleagues in the Federal Government and with State and 

 local leaders and recommend to me a cooperative program to en- 

 courage a national system of trails, building up the more than hun- 

 dred thousand miles of trails in our national forests and parks. 



There are many new and exciting trail projects underway across 

 the land. In Arizona, a county has arranged for miles of irrigation 

 canal banks to be used by riders and hikers. In Illinois, an aban- 



