This proposed main thoroughfare in the park is named the 

 ' ' Ridge Run Road. ' ' It will be located for a distance of about 

 ten miles along the crest of a ridge. Also for about ten miles 

 the road will be in an open valley or " run," the local name for 

 a valley. In both the ridge region and the open valley country 

 the road will possess great scenic attractiveness. Along the 

 ridge there is no point where the roadway drops to an elevation 

 of less than 2,200 feet above sea level. The roadway will wind 

 from one side of the crest to the other with constantly chang- 

 ing vistas of the surrounding country. It will be the longest 

 scenic, high elevation road in the eastern United States. 



The secondary roads will in most cases be developed by 

 using the present rough logging roads in the park area. There 

 will be a few sections which will require new roads to make 

 available the regions that otherwise would be beyond reach. 



The distance which the proposed main road covers is approxi- 

 mately 25 miles. The extent of the proposed secondary roads is 

 about 60 miles. The cost of construction of these roads which 

 are at present required for the use of the park and the extension 

 of the system that will be demanded the next few years has 

 been estimated at $600,000. 



3. Development of Water Arms. The recreational activi- 

 ties which are made available through water areas of fair size 

 within a park are always popular with park users. The total 

 absence of lakes and ponds within the Allegany State Park pur- 

 chase area necessitates the creating of a few artificial bodies of 

 water. There is one location shown on the plan where the 

 largest artificial lake could be created with the least cost. A 

 survey for this project has been made for the Commission by 

 the Department of State Engineer and Surveyor. The results of 

 this survey show that the proposed lake, one and one-half miles 

 long, can be created by dam construction and relocation of 

 roadways at comparatively low costs. The development of 

 water areas within the park for the propagation of fish and for 

 recreational uses demands immediate attention and requires at 

 least $100,000. 



4. Provision of Other Permanent Betterments. In the de- 

 velopment of the park for the largest use of the public several 

 permanent buildings for administrative purposes are greatly 

 needed. These administrative centers should have buildings for 

 the housing, storage and repair of the equipment and supplies of 

 tlie park. These are absolutely essential to the welfare of the 

 state's property, including upwards of a half million dollars' 

 worth of surplus war stores. In addition to the administ^'ative 

 buildings there are now in demand a number of group canms 

 similar to the present camps for the use of the public. The de- 

 mands on tlie park by organized a-ronns. such as the Boy Scouts 

 and the Girl Scouts, Jamestown Health Camp, Y. M. C. A., etc., 



33 



