SCENIC ROADS AND PARKWAYS 217 



There is one thing that we must watch very carefully, once 

 having constructed parkways, and I can tell you this from our 

 own experience. Care must be taken to prevent erosion, and erosion 

 can be prevented by the appropriation of sufficient funds to pro- 

 tect not only the highway itself, but its slopes, shoulders and the 

 vistas. This is particularly applicable where streams, rivers and the 

 sea are concerned. Construction, where necessary, of channels, 

 berms, seawalls, jetties, or other proper precautionary measures, 

 must be undertaken. 



The greenbelt concept of a scenic highway or parkway requires 

 an ever-vigilant attitude to prevent attrition by demand of local 

 communities for their use for purposes such as parking facilities, 

 community building construction, playgrounds designed for inten- 

 sive use, power transmission lines, pumping stations, public util- 

 ity buildings, school purposes, and the like. 



All too often, because open space area is the easiest way out, the 

 nibbling begins, mostly under local pressure. 



Another facet contributing to attrition is the desire to utilize 

 the parkway for mixed traffic to avoid building additional high- 

 ways for that purpose. Here the pressure to convert comes from 

 those opposed to the construction of new highway facilities. The 

 revitalization of the railroads with the use of new equipment and 

 techniques leading to a more intensive use of railroad roadbeds, 

 and with the railroads in a more competitive position with other 

 modes of transportation might check somewhat the demand for 

 continuing expansion and construction of highways for mixed 

 traffic. 



Dr. LEVIN. The scenic roads and parkways study was initiated 

 last summer, in the Department of Commerce, at the request of the 

 Recreation Advisory Council. A study manual containing defini- 

 tions and criteria was formulated. On the basis of the specifica- 

 tions of the manual, the States made nominations of scenic roads and 

 parkways and provided us with all kinds of data on mileage, costs, 

 resource groups, complementary facilities, and related information. 

 These data are now being analyzed, with the help of computers. A 

 final report on the study will be tendered this summer. It will con- 

 tain a recommended national program of scenic roads and parkways, 

 and suggest alternative means of financing the program. It will be 

 sent to the White House and probably will be transmitted to the Con- 

 gress for its consideration. 



