210 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



We would like to affirm that the open space programs will work 

 only if the engineers of the Bureau of Public Roads, Department of 

 Commerce, will approach these problems with open minds. 



Dr. J. HAROLD SEVERAID. The triple-decker, massive, concrete 

 freeway over an equally massive and sterile concrete-lined riverbed 

 in Los Angeles County represents a choice example of what we should 

 avoid if we can. I am less concerned about the inevitable need for 

 some such monstrosities than I am about the fact that engineers are 

 proud of them. Only when the engineer views such masses of con- 

 crete with the same abhorence as does the conservationist can we rest 

 secure in the knowledge that our cities will be treated to a minimum 

 of them. 



MAX M. THARP. A carefully planned recreation program well in- 

 tegrated with the interstate and other Federal-aid highway systems 

 is needed. Both mobility and recreation can be provided when both 

 activities are balanced. Combining recreation and transportation is 

 a practical application of the principles of multiple purpose and 

 balanced use. 



Recreation should be made an integral part of the major park- 

 way, interstate, State, and county highway networks. Three dif- 

 ferent types of recreation facilities, depending on landscape, ter- 

 rain, and other natural features as well as the limitations required 

 for traffic management, should be developed at stated intervals to 

 meet present and expected future recreation demands. These are : 



1. Highway rest parks could be back from the highway a relatively 

 short distance, not more than 3 miles, depending on terrain and 

 availability of appropriate sites. Generally the areas would be 

 screened from the main highway by plantings or natural geologic 

 features. They would differ from the usual waysides and lookouts 

 in location, facilities, and size. Access to highway rest parks could 

 be provided by feeder roads at appropriate interchanges. 



Concession facilities could be provided if the number of visitors 

 created sufficient demand for them, but there would be no overnight 

 facilities. 



2. Highway recreation areas should be located in rural areas near 

 major highway networks. The nature of the resources and their 

 natural setting should be taken into consideration in planning such 

 areas. The type and intensity of use for which they could be de- 

 veloped would depend on these factors. Year-round usefulness 

 should be considered in selecting and developing these areas. For 



