4 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



and technical assistance to aid in making our communities more 

 attractive and vital. In addition, under the Housing Act of 1964, 

 grants will be made to States for training of local governmental 

 employees needed for community development. I am recommending 

 a 1965 supplemental appropriation to implement this program. 



We now have two programs which can be of special help in creat- 

 ing areas of recreation and beauty for our metropolitan area popula- 

 tion : the open space land program and the land and water conserva- 

 tion fund. 



I have already proposed full funding of the land and water conser- 

 vation fund, and directed the Secretary of the Interior to give priority 

 attention to serving the needs of our growing urban population. 



The primary purpose of the open space program has been to help 

 acquire and assure open spaces in urban areas. I propose a series of 

 new matching grants for improving the natural beauty of urban open 

 space. 



The open space program should be adequately financed, and 

 broadened by permitting grants to be made to help city governments 

 acquire and clear areas to create small parks, squares, pedestrian 

 malls, and playgrounds. 



In addition I will request authority in this program for a matching 

 program to cities for landscaping, installation of outdoor lights and 

 benches, creating attractive cityscapes along roads and in business 

 areas, and for other beautification purposes. 



Our city parks have not, in many cases, realized their full potential 

 as sources of pleasure and play. I recommend on a matching basis a 

 series of Federal demonstration projects in city parks to use the best 

 thought and action to show how the appearance of these parks can 

 better serve the people of our towns and metropolitan areas. 



All of these programs should be operated on the same matching 

 formula to avoid unnecessary competition among programs and 

 increase the possibility of cooperative effort. I will propose such a 

 standard formula. 



In a future message on the cities I will recommend other changes in 

 our housing programs designed to strengthen the sense of community 

 of which natural beauty is an important component. 



In almost every part of the country citizens are rallying to save 

 landmarks of beauty and history. The government must also do its 

 share to assist these local efforts which have an important national 

 purpose. We will encourage and support the National Trust for 



