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| of recreation visitors vary widely; so must the provisions for their recreation expe- 
rience. Some visitors prefer outdoor activities which make few demands upon the land 
resource: photography, painting, walking, relaxing, and nature study. Here use is often dis- 
persed, and the manager’s job, which is relatively easy, is to protect the setting and provide only 
primitive conveniences. Others are interested in an activity or sport which results in greater 
concentrations of visitors as in driving for pleasure, camping, picnicking, or water skiing. Here 
more intensive developments are usually necessary. 
In either case a recreation area, to be beautiful and enjoyed, must embrace a pleasing 
combination of topography and plant or animal life. It must be in harmony with its natural 
surroundings and with other forest and recreation uses. To preserve and maintain the natural 
attraction and its beauty while providing for its use, the manager must understand each use and 
its impact on the resource. And his task must go beyond that of managing the resource and 
its facilities. He must provide an opportunity for the visitor to gain a better understanding 
and appreciation of nature and of the use of land. Visitors of all ages can be given an oppor- 
tunity to participate through nature centers, informational signs, and outdoor classroom 
activities. 
PICKING THE RIGHT PLACE AND PROTECTING IT 
Design for visitor facilities must consider topography, soil, and local climate. For ex- 
ample, a small hollow can serve to hide a necessary but unattractive parking lot, sanitary struc- 
ture, or work area. A picnic or campsite should take advantage of a gentle slope with good 
drainage, correct exposure to the sun, and prevailing winds for coolness or warmth. To 
prevent diminishing the value of the special attraction that draws visitors, a camp or picnic 
ground and related installations should be set apart from that attraction. If the area suitable 
for recreational development is small, camp and picnic facilities can be clustered to minimize 
preemption of the natural scene. 
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