I am certain that all persons connected with parks and recreation will be deeply interested to know whether or not your legislation is passed, and will be grateful to you for the interest shown in this field. Very truly yours, FORREST L. CRAWFORD, Director, Parks and Recreation. THE FOX RIVER VALLEY DRIVEWAY AND PARK DISTRICT, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. Aurora, Ill., June 26, 1964. MY DEAR SENATOR NELSON: With reference to your June 17, 1964, letter regarding conservation projects I want you to know how nice it was to voluntarily hear from a Senator who has an interest in parks and recreation. Our size district probably would not utilize great numbers of men efficiently on the proposed construction programs that we now have under consideration. Quantitywise, 25 to 50 men for a 2-year period would put a considerable dent in our projected plans of river, creek, shoreline, and other developments. Thank you for your interest. Sincerely yours, V. L. GILMAN, Director, Parks and Recreation. SKOKIE PARK DISTRICT, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, Skokie, Ill., June 24, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: The proposal for which you have written regarding utilization of unemployed workers is acknowledged. It is indeed a pleasure for me to answer your reply. Please excuse my tardiness, but the penetrating question on legislation raised requires serious thought. The likelihood of utilizing such persons in normal and routine maintenance projects must be contingent upon several factors. It would appear to me that the determination must rest upon whether there are not sufficient persons presently employed to perform the required tasks and the local source of funds is exhausted and does not allow for an increase in the complement of persons who can be employed. I don't know if this type of use of persons is implied in the definition of construction. Secondly, if by the term "construction" you mean the physical development of facilities and instigation of new projects, we would give a qualified yes. Recently, we are the recipient of a Federal open-space grant for land acquisition and will, in the next 2 years, be constructing community parks with such developments as athletic fields, shelters, play equipment, etc. This type program of which I believe you are referring, would allow presently unemployed workers an opportunity to supplement present labor forces at least until the projects are completed. I believe, however, these persons could only be used to the point of not replacing skilled or trained tradesmen. If it is in the area of unskilled positions, I would say by all means we could use same. It is well near impossible at this time to give any approximation of the manhours needed in the latter case. I gain the impression that the legislation proposed in your letter is a refinement of the depression era legislation creating work opportunities such as the CCC. WPA, etc. I see nothing wrong with such legislation providing it is permissive legislation allowing the local agency to make application to the Federal Government for the aid. This would allow the local authority to maintain control over whether it wished such assistance and to determine the numbers of persons to be employed. The local community must concern itself with the fact that if an abundance of persons are available, the production level of the individual may well diminish and personal initiative may suffer. I trust my remarks are not taken as being critical of the contents of your letter, but simply as a sincere effort to be constructive. Municipal government today is faced with an increasing demand by its citizens for more and more service, but those in authority are faced with statutory limitations on the amount which can be levied through taxes. Local referendums for tax increases have in recent years met with an unfavorable response perhaps because of the individuals belief that he can only directly control his tax burden at a local level. Permissive Federal legislation certainly could greatly assist local authorities in this direction. Thank you for your solicitation and in the event we can be of further assistance, please feel free to call on us. Very sincerely yours, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, ROBERT W. RUHE, Director, Parks and Recreation. GENERAL PARK DISTRICT OF DUNDEE TOWNSHIP, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: The answer to your June 17 letter on utilization of unemployed workers for conservation projects is an unqualified yes. If Federal funds were available we would utilize such workers. We might not use as many men as a larger organization; however, relatively speaking we would make good use of such an arrangement. It has long been my opinion that a modernized revival of the old CCC program would be worthwhile to combat the intertwined problems of school dropouts, juvenile delinquency, unemployment among the unskilled as well as satisfying the need for more conservation and recreation developments. I am particularly concerned with the 15, 16, and 17 year old boys who find school no longer appealing and drop out only to find jobs unavailable. I think that these boys should either go directly into military service and fulfill their obligation early or enlist in some sort of civilian work corps. Perhaps it would provide a way to make their life immediately useful. Some might also come to realize the value of an education before it is too late to go back and finish school. If funds are available, our park district might utilize such workers in a number of projects. For example, we have a very rugged, wooded, 26-acre tract. We do not have funds for immediate complete development of a park, and the taxpayers are not anxious to increase their tax bill by approving a bond issue for development of the area. A civilian labor group could profitably spend perhaps 5 man-years cleaning, terracing, draining, clearing, building, and otherwise developing the area for recreational purposes. We might also provide several man-years' work in miscellaneous projects in our other parks. These parks are partially developed but by no means perfect and with our limited budget, we cannot afford to do all of the work which is needed. Unemployed workers might also be utilized for reforestation and other improvement of lands laid waste by open pit mining. There are a number of former gravel pits in our community which could be acquired at a modest cost. It would be practical to improve them with workers of this type but would not be practical if the park district had to pay the going union wages. I hope that when you draft the legislation you will be careful not to include so many restrictions, requirements, provisions, reports, and other redtape makers as to make utilization impractical. Some other Federal participation programs make it almost easier to complete the project alone than to do the paperwork necessary to get Government help. I think very highly of your idea and hope that you are able to successfully draft and pass effective legislation. In support, I am forwarding a copy of this letter to our local Representative and the Illinois Senators in hope that they will support your bill when it comes up. If I can be of further help, please call on me. JOEL W. CARTER, Director of Parks and Recreation. PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: The Springfield Playground and Recreation Commission is interested in your efforts to provide unemployed workers on conservation projects. pansion which could invlove extensive new work programs such as you outlined are not possible. I do not believe that I can be of much help in supplying you with data that would assist you in your legislation. I do, however, wish to express my wholehearted support and endorsement of the type of legislation which you are proposing because I am well aware that there are many public park and recreation agencies who are desperately in need of this kind of financial assistance. Very truly yours, ROY W. MANN, Superintendent, Parks and Recreation, Glencoe Park District. CITY OF ROCKFORD, ILL., July 7, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: The county of Winnebago and the city of Rockford have been utilizing persons who are on relief in just such a manner as your new legislation would provide. We do not feel the need for such a program as would be directed by the Federal Government. We would not care to share in such a program as you have outlined in your letter of July 1. Your inquiry however, was appreciated. Sincerely, BEN T. SCHLEICHER, Mayor, City of Rockford. DES PLAINES PARK DISTRICT, July 8, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you for your letter dated June 16, 1964. In it you asked our opinion regarding the use of Federal funds to utilize unemployed workers on conservation projects such as park development. The members of the Des Plaines Park Board of Commissioners feel as follows: 1. That municipal, county, or State funds should be used for the implementation of such a project; 2. That our Federal Government's part in this regard should be limited to liaison work, research, publication, communication, teaching, etc.: 3. That a local governing agency is more in touch with the local problems and would be in a better position to solve them than a Federal agency; 4. That it would be a hardship on the Des Plaines Park District with extra redtape to involve the Federal Government plus added cost for supervision, vehicles, tools, land, trees, bushes, chemicals, cement, gravel, water, paint, etc. In all we are strongly opposed to this legislation and we hope this letter will help persuade you to change your thinking along the lines previously mentioned herein. Very truly yours, FERDINAND C. ARNDT. Secretary/Director of Parks. MOUNT PROSPECT PARK DISTRICT, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I wish to thank you for your interest in the Mount Prospect Park District. We are a small park district of 35,000 people; we own 215 acres of parks including an 18-hole golf course. We operate a full-year recreational program, all of which is paid for in real estate taxes and fees. We charge for use of the specialized facilities. The Mount Prospect Park District was formed June 10, 1955, by referendum of the people of the district. The district owned no land, had no money, we were paper organization. In the span of 7 years with the help and cooperation of he people of the district much has come to the reality of today. We are presently planning for more facilities and will ask the permission of the people of the district to approve the issuance of bonds to provide the needed moneys for hese facilities and land. I feel that our problems can better be solved on this basis than on the Federal level. Too much of the energy and money so provided by the Federal Government are lost long before they ever reach the local level. I do not want to give the impression that everything is exactly as we want it, but I do feel strongly that the people who are to enjoy the parks and facilities of the Mount Prospect Park District should be the ones to contribute their time and money for it. Again thanks for your interest. Sincerely, THOMAS W. COOPER, Superintendent-Secretary. ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT, Rock Island, Ill., June 23, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter of June 16, 1964, we submit the following: Work utilizing unemployed workers: Constructing trails and roads. Cleaning trails. Removing fence lines. Building shelters similar to those built during the PWA period. Erecting entrance columns. Building observation towers. Erecting flag poles. Making rustic signs. Developing ski slides and toboggan runs (we have numerous requests for these). Building boat docks. I estimate it would take 3 to 5 years to complete these projects depending on how far you wanted to carry the program. I hope this information will be of some benefit to you and if I can be of any further assistance in the future please feel free to call on me because I think you are trying to establish a very worthwhile project. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I apologize for not answering your letter sooner. Your letter arrived at a very busy part of our year. In replying to your letter, please understand my remarks are reflections from a community of 15,000 people. I believe the practicality of your proposed legislation is even greater in larger cities and governmental agencies. Crawfordsville will combine the park and recreation departments January 1, 1965. I think the value of additional workers, as you propose, is greatest in the park facilities. Budgetary considerations do not allow us to have as many personnel as we could use effectively. We could utilize an additional four to seven persons 9 months per year. I foresee that 12 months per year would be somewhat less practical in our own situation. I see no limitations as to the amount of man-years since the work is repetitive each year. As the park system grows and additional park facility development is increased, additional workers will be necessary. Projects undertaken would be largely in the area of grounds and facility maintenance, and construction of additional areas. These would not require extensive training or preparation for employees. My only qualifying comments on utilizing unemployed workers is that they be reliable and conscientious. I would not wish to be in a position where I do not have the authority to select and reject workers on the basis of their abilities. If I may be of further assistance, I will be most happy to do so. Yours truly, WALTER SODERSTROM. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR: The city of Bloomington and Monroe County have plenty of work that could utilize the labor of hundreds of men for several years. The deplorable conditions of abandoned quarries in the surrounding countryside could utilize great numbers of men in a backfill, landscaping, tree planting, rehabilitation program. The city has a surface drainage canal that runs for a mile through one of our parks-this was originally a Government project, the stonewalls have deteriorated and the entire canal needs to be rebuilt. The rehabilitation and preservation of these valuable recreational lands is of the greatest importance, but always difficult to accomplish in an era of rapid growth, mobility, and good economy. Our Nation could make no wiser move than to rehabilitate, renovate, and develop all existing lands and waters to a standard acceptable and in accordance with projected needs of the next century. The population increases will soon find adequate use for all land and those who have provided will have left their work for those to come. Let's spend billions at home to raise our standards of national maintenance so that the future will preserve the past for eternity. Sincerely, J. T. FEMAL, Superintendent. COLUMBIAN PARK, Lafayette, Ind., June 23, 1964. Mr. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.O. DEAR MR. NELSON: I appreciated very much your letter regarding a provision of funds for the utilization of unemployed workers; and the problems it incurs. I would like to see a Riverside Park development and I would also like to see streams made navigable. Any further questions or information pertaining to this matter would be of interest; and please feel free to write me and if I can be of any help, I will be glad to do so. Sincerely, JAMES C. LYBOULT, Director. PUBLIC RECREATION COMMISSION, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you for your letter of June 16, 1964, asking for information regarding our possible use of unemployed workers on conservation projects. I have discussed this with our city park superintendent, F. S. Pride, and we certainly feel the need for such a program. A comprehensive park development plan has just been completed for Evansville and there are several projects in the plan that could be adapted to such a pro |