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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)

PENNSYLVANIA

OVER HALF of the State's 9,750,000 people live in the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton-Wilkes-Barre regions. Another 2,000,000 are located in the remaining 13 urban industrial regions. The population is predominantly urban in character with less than 9 percent being classified as rural. The proximity of metropolitan New York, including the large urban centers in northern New Jersey, constitutes a definite factor which must be considered in recreational planning for this State.

The State's recreational resources, if wisely utilized, are adequate to meet the needs of its own population and its visitors. Its varied topography, ranging from flat tidal river shores to mountainous terrain, and its Great Lake shore line constitute its principal recreational assets. It has numerous streams and small lakes, but pollution in some sections constitutes a serious detriment to their use for recreational purposes. The cool summer climate found in its mountains attracts tourists and vacationists from the surrounding congested regions.

The State has only a few areas which can he classified as parks and these are either too small, too undeveloped, or too far away from the large centers of population to he of much benefit. There is, consequently, a great need for State and county parks near all the metropolitan and urban industrial centers of the State. Minimum needs of the State are estimated at a total of 140,000 acres of publicly owned park lands, 85,000 for local use, an 56,000 in State parks. The elimination of stream pollution constitutes a major problem which should be given immediate and continued attention.

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



FEDERAL

National military park and national cemetery:
36. Gettysburg2,407.62

National battlefield site:
11. Fort Necessity2

National historic sites:
48. Hopewell Village213.70
62. Old Philadelphia Customs House.79
     Total
214.49

Recreational demonstration areas:
2. Raccoon Creek5,033.53
12. Laurel Hill4,024.89
17. Blue Knob5,136
49. French Creek5,984.22
52. Hickory Run12,907.50
     Total
33,086.14

National forest:
14. Allegheny1432,308

Soil Conservation Service land utilization projects:
Pennsylvania Land14,369
19. Site 2

24. Site 1

34. Site 3


Bedford County:
44. Site 115,415
53. Site 2

     Total
29,784


INTERSTATE

Trailway:
51. Appalachian



STATE

State parks:
4. Pymatuning217,528
5. Pennsylvania3,200
13. Cook Forest6,055
     Total
26,783

State monuments:
6. Drake Well40
8. Bushy Run Battlefield132
10. Fort Necessity312
18. Martin's Hill30
21. Buchanan Birthplace13
28. Ole Bull41
29. Bear Meadows350
31. Alan Seeger150
32. Detweiler Run50
38. Snyder-Middleswarth253
39. McConnel Narrows10
40. Joyce Kilmer100
41. Mount Riansares10
45. Fort Augusta1
46. Conrad Weiser26
47. Cornwall Furnace1
50. Daniel Boone Homestead148
55. Bruce Lake47.6
58. Valley Forge1,446
59. Fort Washington360
61. Printz Park8
63. Pennibury43
64. Washington Crossing27
65. Bowman's Hill310
     Total
3,908.6

State waysides:
16. Old Town Tower10
20. Sideling Hill10
22. Jerry Springs6
23. Trough Creek10
25. Whipple30
26. Cherry Spring300
27. Patterson Place5
30. Laurel Run2
33. Big Spring50
35. Bear Valley30
37. Doubling Gap100
42. Stony Fork20
43. Morris30
54. Owego6
66. Snow Hill10
67. George W. Childs51
68. Pecks Lake350
     Total
1,020

State forests:
3. All areas (1938)1,649,439

State wildlife areas:
1. All areas (1937)562,389


LOCAL

County parks:
9. Allegheny (2 areas)4,249
57. Montgomery

60. Delaware (1 area)25
     Total
4,274

County wildlife areas:
56. Trexler-Lehigh1,700

Municipal parks:
15. Bradford (1 area)15
69. Farrell (1 area)10
70. Franklin (1 area)11
71. Tyrone (1 area)125
72. Hanover (1 area)100
73. Harrisburg (2 areas)554
74. Lebanon (1 area)110
75. Reading (6 areas)633
76. Coatesville (1 area)80
77. Bethlehem (4 areas)127
78. Easton (3 areas)115
     Total
1,880

1 Area under Federal administration June 1938.

2 Includes 17,000 acres in Pymatuning Reservoir.

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