206 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



within us, and we yearn to get away from the worry and care of the 

 busy life of the city, town or country. Why not then, so far as we can, 

 bring the beauty spots of Iowa close to the people and provide places 

 where annual pilgrimages may be made at slight expense, and thus draw 

 thousands of people from their busy lives, for a few days or weeks, to 

 the beautiful wooded hills and vales of their native state? 



Iowa was once forested to the extent of 20 per cent of her total area. 

 At present about 7 per cent of her area is tree clad. The forests of the 

 state lie along the streams for the most part, but in the east and north- 

 east heavy timber also grew on the uplands. The proposed state parks 

 are mostly in the wooded portions. A few in the north and northwest 

 counties embrace lakes with little or no timber adjacent. It is proposed 

 to perpetuate a number of the more extensive and picturesque tracts 

 of forest land, especially those containing other natural objects of inter- 

 est, such as rocks, cliffs, caverns, hills, valleys and streams, areas of rare 

 flowers, shrubs, trees, etc. It is greatly to be regretted that all the orig- 

 inal forests are gone and only the remnants .remain as a heritage to us. 

 Under state management, however, those Included within parks may be 

 gradually restored to their former grandeur. 



It is in such places that it is proposed to establish recreation grounds 

 for the people of the state. They are easy of access yet have all the 

 appurtenances of the wild woods and the silent places. Little improve- 

 ment work should be necessary. The tracts should be left as far as pos- 

 sible in their natural condition. Camping places should be provided, 

 and the necessary rules and regulations established to insure proper 

 conduct. 



The areas already tentatively selected for park purposes, are well 

 scattered, and persons living in any part of the state can reach one of 

 them and get well settled in a day's time. During the summer season, 

 when the parks will be most used, the highways are in good condition 

 and camping parties traveling by automobiles can reach their favorite 

 outing places in a comparatively short time and enjoy their stay to the 

 utmost. 



State parks will also provide refuges for much of our rapidly vanish- 

 ing wild life flowers, birds, and animals. They will be ideal places 

 in which to foster new species, especially of game birds and animals, 

 since they will be amply protected at all times, and they may be the 

 means of restocking the state with native and introduced birds and ani- 

 mals, and thus revive a sport now almost extinct. 



Areas of historical importance should, by all means, be acquired for 

 park purposes. Fortunately these tracts are mostly wooded, have much 

 scenic beauty and contain natural objects of great interest in addition. 



Let us all boost for state parks, they are essential to our public 

 welfare and should be established without delay. Let us follow the ex- 

 ample of our neighbors to the north and east, and provide outing places 

 and recreation grounds for the people of the state. Wisconsin has many 

 state parks of large size, some of which are well developed for recrea- 

 tion purposes. Minnesota has Itasca park, through Which has been 

 built excellent highways making it readily accessible., and hence greatly 



