Cover Page

Contents

Preface
Letter

SECTION I

Orientation
Summary

SECTION II

History
Needs
Geography
Historic Sites
Competitors
Economic Aspects

SECTION III

Federal Lands
State and Interstate
Local

SECTION IV

Division of Responsibility
Local
State
Federal
Circulation

SECTION V

Educational Opportunities

The Public Domain

The report on A National Plan for American Forestry makes the following recommendation regarding those parts of the public domain that are suitable for recreation:

Public domain lands that are chiefly valuable for recreation should be turned over to the national parks, national monuments, national forests, or State parks, according to which type of management is best adapted to administering them. Provision has been made in the Recreation Act of June 14, 1926, for turning over to the States or minor political units public domain lands of recreational value which seem better adapted to local than to Federal administration.²¹

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²¹ U. S. Forest Service. A National Plan for American Forestry. U. S. Senate Document No. 12, 73d Congress, 1st Session, 1933. 2 vols., pp. 483.

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Territories and Insular Possessions

Alaska.—National park development in territories is noteworthy, but few territorial parks exist, and administrative units for sufficient care and protection are lacking. Alaska has a national park, Mount McKinley, with 1,939,493 acres, and four national monuments. Katmai National Monument contains 2,697,590 acres and Glacier Bay National Monument contains 1,164,800 acres. The area of Sitka National Monument is negligible, being designed to protect totem poles. Old Kasaan, the fourth national monument in Alaska, is also small. There are extensive national forests in southeastern Alaska. The area of privately owned land is small and most of Alaska is public domain.

It is just as important to supplement such national activities in a Territory as in a State. Each Territory should have a territorial park commission and a system of parks to care for regional recreation and to protect significant scenic, historic, and scientific features.

Philippine Islands.—Insular possessions are as yet largely lacking in park and recreational development. The Philippine Islands, even though slated for independence, should not neglect longer the establishment of an insular park system.

Puerto Rico.—Puerto Rico's only extensive nationally owned area is the Luquillo National Forest. It is being developed almost wholly as a recreational area, though storage reservoirs and power sites are involved. The small plazas in each town constitute about the only public recreation areas with the exception of a sizable city park in San Juan, a few publicly owned beaches, and insular forests of importance. Among the most worthy projects suggested as insular parks are Luquillo Beach at the eastern end of the island, particularly well fitted as a bathing beach and also having historic associations, and Guajataca Gorge, the scenic 12-mile river gorge at the west end of the island. A third project on the south side of the island would be needed to furnish recreational opportunities to the large population of the southern slope of the island.

Study on the ground²² has shown that the two large fortresses of El Morro and San Cristobal are of such age and historic interest that they should eventually be added to the national monument system and utilized educationally rather than at present as quarters for troops. Furthermore, there are a number of scenic and scientific areas, some of which have been selected by the eminent scientist, Dr. N. L. Britton, which should he protected and utilized as insular parks.

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²² Bryant, H. C. and Wright, Geo. 1934 Report of Inspection of Park Possibilities in Puerto Rico. Unpublished manuscript.

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Three strong arguments for early development of an insular park system in Puerto Rico are—

1. The very dense population needing recreational facilities.

2. The need for protecting rapidly disappearing fauna and flora.

3. The need of publicly owned areas since practically the entire island is now privately owned.

Virgin Islands.—Similar recommendations to the above can be made regarding the Virgin Islands. An insular park system should be started through the public purchase of privately owned lands to provide protection for significant and disappearing plants, and for public use for recreation. Here also playfields and organized recreation for children are needed badly.

Hawaii.—The life story of volcanism may be told in Hawaii National Park, first, by the active volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the island of Hawaii; second, by the dormant crater of Haleakala on the island of Maui; and third, by a dead crater. It is desirable to add to the national park at least one of the following areas, which are also rich in scenic and biologic interest;

1. West Maui Mountains, including Eke Crater. This is a dead volcanic dome rising to an elevation of 5,700 feet, highly eroded cuts, deep valleys, and sharp ridges. Beautiful waterfalls, cascades, and mountain streams abound. There is a dense native forest on the windward side and but sparse vegetation on the leeward side.

2. Windward Molokai.

3. Kohala Mountains on Hawaii.

4. Mount Waialeale, including the Na Pali lee coast and Waimea Canyon on the island of Kauai.

These areas are geologically unique and are not duplicated in existing national parks. Their wild mountain character and intricately sculptured beauty can hardly be equalled.

Investigation has not been made as to the availability of these areas, nor whether they involve territorial or privately owned lands.

At the 1934 Territorial Conference of Social Workers the following resolution was passed:²³

In the interest of the youth of the Territory the Conference urges that greatly increased appropriations be made for the Recreation Commission of Honolulu and agencies of similar character on the other islands, to be used in the employment of more trained recreational supervisors in order that the character values of recreation may be assured and conserved.

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²³ From a report transmitted by letter from Hon. J. B. Poindexter, Governor of Hawaii, Oct. 9, 1934.

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The Recreation Commission of Honolulu makes the following recommendations:²⁴

1. Continuance of recreational supervision by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and of engineering projects which affect the creation or improvement of recreational facilities throughout the Territory.

2. Continuance of appropriations to Hawaii National Park, the islands of Maui and Hawaii.

3. The creation of a position of recreation executive by the Federal Government for the Territory of Hawaii, whose duties shall be to coordinate in the welfare and interest of all.

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²⁴ Report transmitted by letter from Hon. J. B. Poindexter op. cit.

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Last Modified: Fri, Sep. 5, 2003 10:32:22 am PDT
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