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RAHALL REPORT: Recreation and Parks Month
From the desk of U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV)
Representing West Virginia's 3rd District
Washington, D.C. (HNN) --I visit our State's parks as often as I can and on
Monday, Aug. 1, 2005, I will be at Rotary Park in Huntington for a picnic
and project celebration for an exciting addition funded by the Land and
Water Conservation Fund project, which is a grant program providing funds
for the past 40 years to State and Local Parks and Recreation Directors
desperately in need of funding to help them preserve open space and develop
recreational facilities.
But before August arrives I want to recognize that since 1985, the National
Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has annually designated July -- when
the summer vacation season traditionally swings into full force -- as
"Recreation and Parks Month." The designation fittingly draws attention to
public parks nationwide that provide Americans with rich opportunities for
leisurely enjoyment.
It is a tradition in our country to set aside special places where citizens
can connect with nature. Our public system of parks and recreational
facilities is unsurpassed by any other in the world. It is distinguished
by the quality of available resources and equipment, the wide array of
experiences offered, and, perhaps most importantly, accessibility.
Notably, according to NRPA, 75 percent of Americans live within two miles of
a public park or recreational facility, and Americans flock to these special
places to relax, play, meditate, and exercise. In fact, NRPA estimates
that 192 million people visit our parks and recreational facilities
annually.
While most of those visits are the result of short trips by nearby
residents, the numbers of families choosing to travel across the miles to
enjoy distant parks and recreational facilities has been growing in recent
years. The strength of West Virginia's tourism industry can certainly be
attributed, in large part, to this trend.
I am a firm believer that the "three T's" - Transportation, Technology and
Tourism - hold the keys to future economic prosperity in our region. And
our parks in West Virginia are a crucial element of our tourism industry.
Our State has been blessed with extraordinary natural beauty that has made
it particularly well-suited to the founding of parks and the establishment
of recreational sites. The Creator provided for us breath-taking mountain
views, shimmering lakes and ponds, and wondrous geologic formations. As a
result, you would be hard-pressed to do much traveling around West Virginia
without bumping into a State Park.
Here, among our West Virginia hills, one can find serenity and inspiration.
In fact, it would be hard to find anyplace more satisfyingly peaceful than a
perch on a moss-covered rock on a forested West Virginia mountainside.
But West Virginia also holds appeal for the more adventurous among us. Here
can be found fishing, canoeing, skiing, mountain biking, and some of the
best whitewater rafting in America. In West Virginia you can pitch a tent
and sleep beneath the stars, or hike along a softly broken trail on the edge
of a mountain stream.
Given the array of treasures to be found here, it is understandable that 2.5
million out-of-state travelers would have visited West Virginia's State
Parks last year.
From my position as leading Democrat on the House of Representatives
Resources Committee, I have been able to help protect and promote some of
West Virginia's truly unique places. Not only have I secured federal
protections for some special sites - like the New River Gorge and the
Monongahela National Forest - but I have helped to ensure federal investment
in our state, counties, and cities to promote the establishment of local
parks and playgrounds.
Throughout the rest of the Summer weeks, I urge West Virginians to enjoy
lunchtime picnics, afternoon swims in our ponds and rivers, and nights
camping under the stars.
