S-Parks, October 1961 Page: 1
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: S-Parks and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
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SKYROCKETING CROWDS PRESS U.S. PARK FACILITIES
By Jay Vessels
The man said: "We wangle a few more funds and manage a few more accommo-
dations- for the campers. But before we get the job done the new units are overrun.
We just can't seem to keep ahead of the amazing demand."
It was a park manager talking. His name doesn't matter. Because the statement
was repeated time and again at the just closed National Conference on State Parks at
Lake Texoma Lodge.
Of course, there were reports about everything from nature observation areas to
the latest in comfort station equipment. But the primary theme was the incredible rush
of Americans into the open spaces. And they didn't mean just the hunters and fishermen
and waterskiiers and boating fans. They meant the folks bent only on getting into the
open, away from urban congestion and urban noises.
Nobody wasted any time on the reason. Everybody was seeking the answer to the
common problem-where to put them all. A fellow from the Federal Bureau of Land
Management office in Washington got up and talked about the umteen million acres
of "public lands" out west. And added that his outfit was adding a recreational crew
to help convert part of it into places to go and to play.
But the rank and file of the conference delegates, representing fifty states, talked
about the more immediate problem of catering t) the "close in trade"-to the countless
millions who are devoting weekends to camping out, and naturally not in a position to
travel overland great distances except during vacations.
This national craving pointed up a delicate situation that prompted the only
disagreement of the week-long conference. This concerns the demand for more land
for roadways to transport the populace. Overwhelming conference sentiment favored
a "hands off" policy when park lands are sought for highways. But a pacifying
minority urged caution so that prevailing pleasant relations between park departments
and highway departments are not disturbed. A "watered down" resolution finally was
adopted.
In a bid to conquer the chronic equipment shortage, the conference asked authority
to buy surplus federal materials which now are allocated to some governmental
agencies but not to parks.
All members of the Texas Parks Board attended the conference and one, Frank
Quinn, was active chairman of the conference board. Chairman J. Carter King, Jr., of
the parks board, was present for the entire week. Several members of the parks board
staff attended to assist in the arrangements.
In the end, Arthur Elmer, Lansing, Michigan, conference president, described the
1961 meeting as "the most successful and productive convention ever held." It was a
mighty compliment indeed for the Oklahoma-Texas joint undertaking.
REFUGEE ASSISTANCE CITED BY A. P. EDITOR
Dion Henderson, Outdoor Editor for The Associated Press, had just received
the September issue of S-PARKS, describing the proposal for emergency use of Texas
State Parks for survival centers, when the wires brought details of the parks assistance
to Hurricane Carla evacuees. Henderson, whose headquarters are in Milwaukee, Wis-
consin, devoted his weekly column to the latest Texas conquest. His columns are dis-
tributed throught the nation.- 1 --
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Texas. State Park Board. S-Parks, October 1961, periodical, October 1961; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1567359/m1/3/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.