28 FOREST OUTINGS 



With the need as it is, with great public pleasure grounds open to the 

 people, it becomes a matter of common-sense policy to see that public recrea- 

 tional facilities do not simply duplicate existing commercial facilities, but 

 provide values that a private resort, be it Coney Island or Newport, gener- 

 ally cannot provide. This is especially true of recreation on the national 

 forests. 



What the national forests have to offer, above all else, is space space 

 and stillness. Rich people can buy this, in some measure. But only the very 

 favored few are in a position to buy themselves enough of it in the form of 

 suburban or country estates, country club privileges, membership in exclu- 

 sive shore communities, and so on. Only about 1 percent of our city people, 

 at most, are rich enough to buy enough space and stillness to satisfy that 

 need in themselves, their families, and their friends. If this is a reasonable 

 estimate, it follows that 99 percent of the outdoor recreation problem of 

 our city people cannot be solved by the individual efforts of the persons 

 immediately concerned. 



Outdoor recreation for urban populations has become, then, a problem 

 that seldom, if ever, can be expected to solve itself. Only 1 percent of ocean 

 and Great Lake shores, for instance, remains open to the public. 



The need for public playgrounds using the term in the larger sense- 

 has been recognized in this country since the early settlers began to build up 

 city communities. The public "common" so characteristic of New England 

 cities was one of our earliest gestures in recognition of the need for setting 

 aside ample space for simple recreation. City parks were another step 

 toward sustaining simple natural values out of doors. It is now the recog- 

 nized job of many a city government to provide play space for its citizens. 

 It is held a matter of civic pride that such playgrounds should so far as 

 possible preserve beautiful natural settings. And of late, with continually 

 greater willingness, Government is accepting the task of devising and 

 furnishing effective outlets for the innate craving of its citizens for outdoor 

 exercise, relaxation, and refreshment. The job of general recreation is 

 gradually being accorded the same basic importance as that of general 

 education. It has become a public responsibility, recognized alike by 

 county, State, and Federal Governments. 



