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. 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.O. 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 a paper organization. In the span of 7 years with the help and cooperation of the 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 these 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. 1 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. Sincerely yours, A. C. GAETJER, Superintendent, Rock Island County Forest Preserves. Senator GAYLORD NELSON, INDIANA RESPONSES DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION, Crawfordsville, Ind., July 8, 1964. U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 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.C. 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 gram with little effort. I am reminded of the tremendous amount of work accomplished on such projects during the old CCC days and also through the Works Progress Administration. In fact, if it had not been for such programs, many parks and recreation areas would still be undeveloped. As for specific projects, there are several in our program that would be done with little preparation. I am thinking of extensive landscaping and reforestation of marginal lands; the clearing and cleaning of potential picnic areas; making nature trails; building retaining walls, etc. It would be extremely difficult to estimate the man-years of work but I am sure there is a tremendous need on the municipal level for this type of service. Not only would these workers be providing useful facilities for the general public, they would be learning skills that could lead to full-time employment and career opportunities in general park work. We are definitely interested and if we can help in any way, please feel free to call on us. Sincerely, JAMES A. PETERSON, Superintendent. Mr. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D. C. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In reference to your letter of June 16, 1964, I am pleased to give you the following information. I also would like to express my sincere desire to cooperate with you in any way possible in drafting legislation to provide funds for the utilization of the unemployed workers for conservation projects such as park development and so forth. If funds were available, this department could utilize approximately 25 men for a period of at least 4 years in the development of the following: 1. Establishing scenic and hiking trails at approximately 200 acres of knob land that is located within the city limits of New Albany, Ind. 2. Cleaning up and establishing walking trails, playground areas, and park areas at approximately 150 acres of lowlands which are now used for ponding area by the floodwall district and another 100 acres of ground that lays between the floodwall and the Ohio River. 3. A tree and shrubbery planting program in these lowlands which are now flooded by the Ohio River on about 10 days per year. 4. Development of riverfront park facilities. 5. Development of small streams running through the city as public recreation sites. 6. Development of overnight camping sites within the city or within the county. These programs would be started immediately and without extensive new preparation. These few opportunities would be available and in full use if we, on a local level, had sufficient funds to employ the manpower to develop these areas. I am firmly convinced that we could utilize these 25 man-years immediately. We, here in New Albany, are blessed with a number of natural resources which are unable to be utilized both on the local level or the tourist level because of the lack of funds to employ the manpower for this development. The fact, Senator, that I am in the park and recreation profession may cause me to be a bit prejudiced toward its cause. I feel that a genuine need exists here in New Albany to develop these resources which, when they are developed, will provide a considerable amount of additional employment for our citizens. If I may be of any help to you in any way, I would deeply appreciate your request. I have served as president of the Indiana Park & Recreation Association and have served on the board of directors for 6 years, and I am confident that other cities throughout this State are in just as great a need for such aid as we here in New Albany. I will make available for you, at your request, any resources of information or advice that I might have. Thanks for your dedicate effort to such a great cause. Sincerely, SAM PEDEN, Superintendent. CITY OF MICHIGAN CITY, IND., Mr. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I must apologize for my delay in answering but your request does deserve careful consideration. I am sure your proposed legislation would be of great benefit to some States and municipalities; however, I do not feel as if our community would need this type of assistance at the present. I would suggest that you work closely with the bureau of outdoor recreation and other existing bureaus and departments who are now offering assistance to all units of government. The existing agencies do not offer the type of assistance you propose but perhaps your ideas could be incorporated in an existing program to offer additional help. I highly recommend that all legislation relating to the field of parks and recreation be correlated with the existing agencies now responsible for the planning and assistance in the field. Sincerely, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. JAMES W. Cook, Superintendent, Parks & Recreation. CITY OF FORT WAYNE, July 7, 1964. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you for your letter dated July 1, 1964, directed to Mayor Harold S. Zeis and referred to the writer for attention. Fort Wayne has approximately 23 miles of riverbank within its corporate limits, all of which are in need of attention from the standpoint of dead trees and debris removal. Silt accumulation along the river's bottom also presents a problem which must be coped with continuously. In addition, we have two upriver dams which impound the waters of the St. Joe River to provide the water supply for the city of Fort Wayne. Virtually 36 miles of additional river frontage is involved and, again, the problem of dead trees and debris both along and in the river demand many hours of attention. A number of our bridges and concrete retaining walls also need repair and, if provided with funds to employ the required workers, we could easily use 20 to 30 people for a number of years. If additional information is required or we can be of further service in connection with the very worthwhile program plans, do not hestitate to call on us. Sincerely, FRED S. EHRMAN, Chairman. CITY OF FORT WAYNE, BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In reply to your letter of June 16, concerning our ability to utilize unemployed persons on park development projects, we have many miles of riverbanks in our city that should be beautified by removing debris, etc., and we have stone walls along our Spy Run Creek that were constructed by WPA years ago and are now in need of much repair. We could use 10 men for several years to improve the above property. We are concerned, of course, with materials to be obtained for these projects. Are such materials available from the Federal Government? Respectfully yours, MARTIN NADING, Superintendent of Recreation and Parks. |