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A Study of the Park and Recreation Problem of the United States


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Cover

Contents

Foreword

Supplemental Foreword

Introduction

Recreational Habits and Needs

Aspects of Recreational Planning

Present Public Outdoor Recreational Facilities

Administration

Financing

Legislation

A Park and Recreational Land Plan


A Study of the Park and Recreation Problem of the United States
National Park Service Arrowhead


A Park and Recreational Land Plan for the United States (continued)

NEBRASKA

THE EASTERN HALF of the State, where the geologic and climatic conditions are more suitable for agriculture, contains the major portion of the population. The rural population comprised 65 percent of the State's total in 1930. However, the urban population increase between 1920 and 1930 represented 90 percent of the total State increase.

Nebraska contains a number of sites of surprising natural beauty. Some of these should be set aside as State parks regardless of their location, in order to preserve portions of the original areas of the State. There is need for additional recreation areas for holiday, week-end, and vacation use of the average Nebraskan. These areas should contain recreational water, and adequate cover of trees and shrubs. Water is an all important resource in this State, where the summers are long and warm.

There are a number of water control projects, existing and proposed. Some of the existing impounded bodies of water have received considerable recreational use. Further planning and development of such projects should carefully consider their recreation potentialities.

The two major population centers, Omaha and Lincoln, should continue to give due consideration to the recreational requirements of the people. Omaha's park system might well be expanded outwardly. A parkway along the Missouri River from Omaha to Sioux City, Iowa, and hence to the lake district of Iowa, and the Minnesota River in Minnesota, could provide needed local recreation areas and a pleasant travel way for Nebraskans seeking the more favorable vacation areas in Iowa and Minnesota.

map
(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)



FEDERAL

National monuments:
2. Scotts Bluff3,476.27
44. Homestead National Monument of America160.82
     Total
3,637.09

National forests:
11. Nebraska National Forest—Niobrara Division115,638
15. Nebraska National Forest—Bessey Division90,388
     Total
1206,026

National wildlife areas:
3. North Platte Reservation5,107
5. Crescent Lake Migratory Waterfowl Refuge42,628.61
17. Valentine Migratory Waterfowl Refuge65,284
19. Niobrara Game Preserve18,082.91
     Total
131,102.52


STATE

State parks:
4. Chadron804
6. Rock Creek100
7. Champion Lake11
9. Walgren130
10. Cottonwood160
12. Wellfleet140
13. Duke Alexis80
14. Arnold Lake40
21. Victoria Springs60
22. Pressay80
23. Furnas County30
24. Fort Kearney40
27. Litchfield Lake20
28. Loop City50
30. Pibal Lake63
31. Stolley43
32. Hastings55
35. Niobrara Island State Park and Game Refuge800
36. Thayer County40
38. Blue River14
39. Ponca220
40. Fremont307
41. Memphis Lake148
45. Louisville190
46. Platteview40
48. U. P. Pit172
50. Arbor Lodge65
     Total
3,902

State wildlife areas:
1. Wild Cat Hills200
8. Frye Lake345
16. Rat and Beaver Lakes225
18. Ballard Marsh State Shooting Grounds1,500
20. Long Lake80
25. Cotton Mill Lake100
26. Ravenna80
29. Goose Lake350
33. Guide Rock30
34. Rowell160
37. Jefferson County30
51. Richardson County55
     Total
3,155

Recommended parkways:
42. Omaha—Lincoln Parkway

49. Missouri River Parkway



LOCAL

Municipal parks:
43. Lincoln (1 area)600
47. Omaha (1 area)502
52. Alliance (1 area)48
53. Norfolk (2 areas)54
54. Columbus (1 area)121
55. Fairburg (1 area)94
56. Beatrice (1 area)20
58. Schuyler (1 area)49
59. Fremont (3 areas)63
     Total
1,551

Recommended metropolitan park systems:
57. Lincoln

60. Omaha

1 Area under Federal administration, June 1938.

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Last Modified: Mon, Aug 9 2004 10:00:00 pm PDT
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