PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 207 



enjoyed by thousands yearly. Michigan has its state forests, which, 

 where possible, are made available for outing purposes. Let us have 

 state owned recreation grounds in Iowa. We have made a start in the 

 right direction, let the good work be carried through to its logical con- 

 clusion, and Iowa will ultimately have a 'State park system of which it 

 can well be proud. 



THE PLACE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION IN OUR MODERN CIVILI- 

 ZATION. 



By L. H. Pammel, Botanist. 



When I prepared this program, the above topic was selected for the 

 purpose of placing emphasis on the great out of doors. Our modern 

 civilization is so rapid that we almost forget the finer things of life. 

 That there is real need of giving more attention to the great out of doors 

 is apparent on every hand. The business man working all day in his 

 office, store or factory needs the refreshing stimulus from nature. The 

 farmer at the plough share and busy in the harvest field needs the 

 recreation so necessary to invigorate his life. The woman of the city at 

 the office desk or the toilsome saleswoman, who labors in selling goods 

 over the counter, the busy housewife of the farm and city, all need the 

 good they can get from the great out of doors. These people will be 

 rejuvenated, if they can only spend a few days in some convenient place 

 in woods and meadows. 



The glorious sunshine not darkened by the smoke of factory and mill, 

 can only be had away from the city. The shade of the great oaks, elms, 

 maples and basswoods is much more refreshing than the shade trees of 

 the city, where the hot sun radiates from the paved streets. 



It seems to me the health of the community is of such paramount im- 

 portance to the state and nation that something must be done for its 

 citizens. The nation has wisely set aside large areas in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, the Pacific Coast, in Minnesota, the Appalacian and White moun- 

 tains, as playgrounds for the American people and we owe much to the 

 late Honorable John F. Lacy of Oskaloosa, who had the whole country 

 at heart in providing for these national playgrounds. Major Lacy gave 

 us far reaching plans in its bolder outline and left to his successors the 

 plan to reach the smaller communities. Nearly all the larger cities have 

 parks of varying size, a beginning in most cases, only has been made. 

 We have now reached the stage in our civilization where these parks must 

 be greatly augmented. Every county and city in the state must provide 

 parks, where the daily toiler can find solace and comfort. The state 

 must augment the work of the county and city and even the national gov- 

 ernment can well afford to nationalize these parks as it is proposed to 

 do in the vicinity of the Mississippi Valley National Park, and why not? 



We are now in the transitional stage in the affairs of our govern- 

 ment. Witness, if you please, matters of importance connected with 

 the war. Some matters which a year ago were thought to be purely a 

 state matter, are now rightly considered to be a part of the affairs of 



