Improvement and development projects in county parks Personnel To train as tractor operators- To train as heavy equipment operators- To train as carpenters-- To train as stoneworkers_. To train as concrete finishers.. To train as roadbuilding labor-. To train as planting trees, work in nursery, soil conservation__. To train as plumber's helpers To train as electrician's helpers.. 2 3 10 10 5 10 20 10 2 JACKSON COUNTY PARK DEPARTMENT, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In reply to your letter of June 15, I am sorry I could not answer sooner. The projects you mentioned are all worthwhile but none can be carried out (by us) without additional park land. I am sure you want an honest answer but I am afraid the tendency will be for departments to cut back on their crews and use your funds for general maintenance. This will not be true of State park systems. From past experience (5 years with Kentucky) all State parks have work to be accomplished due to their vast land holdings. At the present time we are planning to acquire a new park of 2,100 acres on the Big Blue River in Kansas City. If this project is accomplished, no funds will be available for development for 3 years. In this case we can utilize 30 to 50 full-time employees in order to develop the area. Projects would be, clearing dead timber, clearing brush and timber from the river, building picnic areas, parking areas, trails, et cetera. I trust the above is the information desired. WILLIAM L. LANDAHL, Director of Parks. THE JAMES FOUNDATION, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR: Thank you for your letter of June 15, 1964. I shall try to be specific in answering your questions. 1. If funds were available could you utilize substantial numbers of workers in your own programs? Yes, there is a great deal of work involving timber stand improvement, park maintenance and general conservation work that could utilize many unemployed skilled or unskilled labor at any season of the year. The needs for this type labor is highest during your spring and summer months. The winter seasons would utilize much labor on roads, brush clearing, and general land improvement. 2. What specific kinds of projects could be done without extensive new preparations? 1. Timber stand improvement. 2. Roadside beautification. 3. Community beautification. 4. Nature trails. 5. Nature schools for Scouts and other young groups interested in conservation and nature. 6. Park road repair and water control from road runoff. 7. Improve public use areas for the traveling public. 8. Maintain roadside parks and build others where needed. 9. Added labor to care for public use areas now in operation. 3. Could you give the number of man-years of work which might be usefully undertaken in the immediate future? It would be a rough estimate and also depending on the type of supervision offered and areas covered. I would say there is enough work available along the above line to handle a program for at least 10 years and perhaps longer. I remember the old CCC program which the good effect can be seen today in all parks of our State. For instance, the roads built by the CCC are now main thoroughfares or very useful farm-to-market roads and wildlife gained new life and expanded number. Several planted forests in the 1940's are now useful sources to our society as lumber and scenic beauty. My general comment would be more power to you if you can promote a Government-sponsored program to assist the State, counties, and cities in a general conservation program. Also what a fine way to utilize our unemployed ranks. I hope I have been able to help you to some extent. FORD W. HUGHES, Representative. SEDALIA PARK DEPARTMENT, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Your letter pertaining to legislation to provide funds for municipal agencies to utilize unemployed workers on such projects as park development is at hand, and I, for one, would welcome such aid as it would enable our community to provide recreational facilities that we probably could not for some years to come. We have five parks in Sedalia that range in size from 1 block square to 30 acres and they are so severely overcrowded that we are endeavoring to prepare another tract of 37 acres into a park. This is not a case of imaginary needs but a real effort to provide space and facilities for the people using our parks. Lack of funds limit our progress to a very little each year and it will be many years before we can meet the needs of our community. Such assistance as outlined in your letter would be of great benefit to our city and many other cities throughout the land. To accomplish the necessary clearing, landscaping, grading, and control of a large ditch through the area, construction of facilities, etc., we estimate not less than 50 men would be required for at least 1 year. Yours truly, L. R. BLACK, Superintendent of Parks. CITY OF FERGUSON PARK DEPARTMENT, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In response to your letter dated June 15, 1964, I, first of all, want to take this opportunity to express my pleasure in hearing of your proposed legislation for the utilization of unemployed workers for conservation projects. In answer to your specific questions, the Ferguson Park Department could, as I am sure all other park agencies could, utilize unemployed personnel to further develop and maintain park areas. The present quality level of maintenance in all park systems is determined by the individual budget of each agency. Consequently, and in most instances, all is done that can be done within local financial limitations to maintain and develop individual sites. In many cases financial limitations involved, restrict the quality and quantity of work that is done. Although it is not completely clear what you mean by "extensive new preparation," I can foresee in my particular department where numerous programs and projects could be undertaken if such legislation were passed. I can foresee immediate need for 15 man-years of work in our park department alone which does not include other work that could be undertaken under the auspices of the local public works department. It is my opinion that your proposed legisla tion would result in the overall betterment of each community, State, and conse- Best wishes for complete success in your undertaking. Senator GAYLORD NELSON, DONALD E. CLARK, Director, Parks and Recreation. ST. CHARLES PUBLIC PARK Board, DEAR SENATOR: Your letter of June 15, 1964, was most welcome. We are in the process of developing two new parks at the present time, one of 55 acres and the other 14 acres. The prospects are also very good that we shall have another area to develop within 18 to 24 months. If manpower were available, we could proceed at an accelerated rate in making facilities available to the public. If funds for labor were made available, equipment and material could be provided with currently available funds. We could also provide better programs and facilities if additional manpower were available in existing parks and the two mentioned above. Without the benefit of extensive study, we could use 25 to 30 man-years of labor per year for the next 2 years. Sincerely, Mr. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. NORBERT WAPELHORST, SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC PARK BOARD, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In answer to your letter of June 15, in which you stated that you are trying to get funds for municipal agencies for work on various projects, we could use this type of project to help us with the development of new park areas we have purchased. We have planned for roadside parks alongside Federal Highway 44, and I could use personnel for the expansion of our handicap program in areas that are thickly wooded. We could put this type of help to good use. As for the number of man-years of work undertaken, I would say that we would have enough to keep personnel busy for 5 years if we could only secure the necessary funds. As I am sure you know, we are going to have to have more recreation facilities for the people in the United States. If we can be of further help to you, please let us hear from you. DEAR SENATOR: In reply to your letter of June 15, 1964, relative to the possibility of utilization of substantial numbers of workers in park development projects, may I submit the following: In Kansas City, Mo., we have approximately 850 acres in the northern part of the city located in 28 different park areas, which are virtually undeveloped at this time. There are three park areas, totaling 241 acres in the central eastern section of the city in need of extensive grading, planting, and minor developments. In the southern section of the city we have 227 acres of which only 20 acres have received a partial development. All of these areas, totaling approximately 1,100 acres, can be considered as new park development. A large labor unit could be used advantageously in the existing 53 established park areas, totaling 2,760 acres, to rehabilitate wornout facilities and public use areas; modernize play equipment and playgrounds; eliminate or reconstruct walks. In some parks, extensive redevelopment is needed and many park roads and parking areas should be rebuilt. We feel we could put a labor force of 150 man-years to work tomorrow. If labor, transportation, and some equipment and materials were available, we believe we could sustain a 300 man-year program within 6 months for an indefinite period. Approximately 2,000 acres of certain city lands can be made available for park, recreation, and conservation uses in a short time and adequate plans can be prepared within 6 months. Any work accomplished in new park development or in rehabilitating old parks would not affect our normal working force which is operated exclusively for maintenance. I hope the above information will be of benefit to you. tional information you desire please feel free to contact us Very truly yours, If there is any addiat any time. FRANK VAYDIK, Superintendent of Parks. CITY OF UNIVERSITY CITY, MO., Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. June 29, 1964. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I've purposely kept your letter of June 15, 1964, concerning projects for possible Federal funds, in order to think a bit about how this kind of a program could be used in University City, Mo. We probably have all the parks we are going to get, because we are hemmed in on all sides in a dense metropolitan area. Therefore, all I can think of is the following: 1. Building retaining walls in several parks to eliminate erosion of steep slopes. 2. Special forestry and weed-killing crews to do what our limited man-› power cannot do. 3. Erecting shelters (prefabricated type). The above are samples of things that can enhance our parks but aren't big projects. One big project that could be undertaken and that would help us directly is the riprapping of miles and miles of open storm sewers known as the River Des Pere channels. These are under the jurisdiction of the metropolitan sewer district, and are located throughout the Metropolitan St. Louis and St. Louis County territory-perhaps beyond. This would be a very worthwhile necessary project. Our crews have to cut the weeds in the creeks or channels just in University City. There is also a stench from these channels and they are rat and vermin infested. Metropolitan Sewer District may even work out a plan with Federal aid to cover these channels, but this is an engineering question that only they could answer. I hope this is of some help. Sincerely, 37-181-64--14 C. I. LINHART, Director, Parks, Recreation and Forestry. MONTANA RESPONSES STATE OF MONTANA HIGHWAY COMMISSION, STATE PARKS DIVISION, Helena, Mont., June 8, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: We have your letter relative to proposed legislation you are currently drafting. We would be able to use quite a number of workers in our State parks system. We would use them on such projects as parking areas, barriers, clearing, road construction, construction of basic facilities, rehabilitation of buildings and structures, water systems and extensions and any number of other projects in our State park areas. We would not be able to estimate the number of manyears which might be undertaken in the immediate future. Actually, there isn't much limitation to what needs to be done. If manpower were available our big problem would be funds to supply the materials required in the above-mentioned projects. Also, we would have to employ supervisory personnel to oversee the projects. There would be other problems such as housing and transportation. We will be interested in the progress of your legislation. ASHLEY C. ROBERTS, Director. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. NEBRASKA RESPONSES NEBRASKA GAME, FORESTATION, AND PARKS COMMISSION, Lincoln, Nebr., July 10, 1964. DEAR SENATOR: I regret that my reply to your letter of May 29 has been delayed. It has been necessary that we do some studies in order to come up with an intelligent answer to your question. We are currently engaged in a 10-year capital improvement program in the State of Nebraska which involves State parks, recreation areas, historic parks, wayside parks, public hunting and fishing areas, lakes, and in fact the whole area of outdoor recreational and vacation areas and facilities. There isn't any question but what we can use a lot of help and should your proposed legislation be enacted, we would wish to be able to participate. It is a little difficult to estimate the amount of the help we could use in this program since we do not presently know what the requirements of participation would be, or what the skills of the workers might be. Our preliminary studies indicate that we could use a minimum of 500 man-years and probably a lot more. I am speaking here of the park and recreational activities but we could also use a limited supply of labor in timber stand improvement on State-owned property. I trust this will be of some assistance to you promoting your legislation. Incidentally, when the bill is printed we would appreciate receiving about three copies. I should like to add personal greetings and to say that I have watched your work in the Congress with a great deal of interest. You may not recall meeting me, but we both spoke to a session of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress a few years back and I remember you very well because I was greatly impressed by your address and by your views in the field of conservation of human and natural resources. Very truly yours, M. O. STEEN, Director. NEBRASKA GAME, FORESTATION, AND PARKS COMMISSION, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I have just returned to find your letter of recent date regarding proposed legislation to provide Federal funds for unemployed workers |