A Nation-Wide System of Parks
Background: As part of the New Deal, the U.S. government produced hundreds of educational films to inform the public about and promote its programs. This film excerpt was produced by the Department of the Interior to highlight the creation of new state and federal parks.
Transcript:
In 1933 the chief concern of the American government was to break the back of a bad depression. Among the conditions to be remedied were two that President Roosevelt recognized at once: employment for hundreds of thousands of young men and War veterans was imperative; havoc brought by soil erosion had long since shown the necessity of the immediate restoration conservation and further development of the country's natural resources. As one solution for both problems, the organization and work of the Civilian Conservation Corps was undertaken. And in two years through this unique plan both problems were well on their way toward solution. As great aids to economic recovery the saving of Natural Resources was conservation pure and simple. One important phase of the development of these resources was more than that it was the making of a nationwide system of recreational areas, smaller more numerous state parks closer to the people, more easily accessible for their use, supplementing the Magnificent national parks.
Conservation work in all its many phases is being done in these state park areas from one end of the country to the other. Better facilities for forest firefighting are being provided through the building of truck trails fire lanes and observation towers and the stringing of communication lines. Speed is imperative in fighting forest fires quick discovery the quick spreading of the alarm and roads to reach the scene of action. Dead trees and tangled dry undergrowth are being cleared from the forest where necessary to prevent the starting of fires.
An aggressive war is being waged on the insects which slowly but surely are destroying natural beauty in our wide-open spaces. Tent caterpillars are a menace to our forest lands and beautiful medals and fields are constantly being stripped of their vegetation unless the hungry grasshoppers are fed poisoned bran. The value of modern tree surgery in saving our forests in special situations is being liberally attested. Planting is another important conservation measure. Seedlings literally in the Midlands are being set out to replace trees ruthlessly destroyed. Shrubbery is being planted on slopes and hillsides to stop soil erosion. More spectacular is the moving of matured trees for landscaping purposes. There's a world of power in this mighty movement men and machinery old Dobbin and even is more picturesque brethren. . . .
In the conservation corps development of state parks is found a perfect blending of conservation and recreation. Besides protecting and saving land and timber and Wildlife, this phase of the program develops recreation areas for people who have not had them before. Many kinds of work are required to develop this recreation plan hundreds of dams will make Lakes in regions where large natural bodies of water are unknown. Hiking and bridle trails wind through the parks each of these trails being constructed by the Conservation Corps in state parks in 42 states is carefully placed by expert park planners so the natural growth of the area will be harmed as little as possible and yet so points of interest can be reached. Splendid views few men have seen because the peaks were inaccessible now open up as these trails lead hikers to the mountaintops. Racing Brooks and deep streams are spanned by rustic bridges of good design. They are built by skilled laborers and Conservation Corps enrollees according to plans of graduate engineers and architects. Though thousands gather in the parks to enjoy these new recreational facilities the old parking problem is no bother. Adequate spaces have been provided. Camping is encouraged and every outdoor convenience is furnished. Open stoves and picnic tables are spotted through the areas, these two built by the Corps enrollees under the direction of skilled laborers and expert designers. Any health menaces that might exist are obliterated by the construction of complete water and waste disposal systems to serve all.
Source: National Archives. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/11730.