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Private Land and Dollars for Public Recreation by Gene Schaaf, Outdoor Recreation Planner Bureau of Outdoor Recreation How can public recreation opportunities be increased or expanded to provide for people's leisure needs? How can additional land be acquired or for that matter where will the money come from to develop existing lands? Where can operation and maintenance money be obtained? These and similar problems are being faced almost daily by numerous public recreational organizations. What solutions are there to such problems? The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) in the United States Department of the Interior believes that the answers to some of these problems may be found in the Bureau's technical assistance program. This program is an innovative effort to encourage the utilization of private lands and monies for public outdoor recreation and open space projects. Emphasis is placed on encouraging donations (land and money) from charitable foundations, private corporations, utilities, private citizens, and special interest groups. The introduction of private money and land in recreation projects has many advantages—it can free local dollars for operation and maintenance, allow the expansion of a project and often can mean the difference between no project and a highly successful project. In fact, many projects have taken place with little or no cost to Federal, State and local governments. Since the inception of this program three years ago, the Bureau has worked with numerous corporations, foundations, private landowners and recreation agencies on a variety of recreation and open space projects involving private funds and land. The Bureau efforts fall into two main categories—land negotiations and cash contributions. Land Negotiations—BOR encourages the private sector to make land available for recreation projects through a variety of means such as:
1. land donation
Although the approach to each project differs, when an area with good recreation potential is identified, the Bureau generally works with the appropriate recreation agency to encourage the private interest to donate, lease or otherwise make the area available for public use. The program encompasses a wide spectrum of work efforts ranging from identifying specific lands and making initial contacts with potential donors and recipients to developing a public relations package and assessing the potential tax benefits which might accrue to private interests participating in the project. "Cooperative Management" is another aspect of the land negotiations efforts. If a desired parcel of land is in Federal ownership and currently underutilized, BOR assists the State or local unit of government in obtaining a "cooperative management agreement" for the temporary use of the Federal property for recreational purposes. Such agreements can be developed for properties controlled by such agencies as the Corps, of Engineers, Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, Forest Service, Housing and Urban Development, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Veterans Administration, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, Geological Survey, and General Services Administration. Assistance is also provided to military bases in planning and developing recreation facilities with the result that such areas are often made available to the public. Cash contributions—the Bureau assists in obtaining cash contributions from various sources such as:
1. private individuals
This often involves identifying potential sources of funds, contacting these sources and providing information and assistance necessary to attract the funds for the recreation project. The technical assistance program is working! On a nationwide basis during FY 1975, BOR initiated land and cash donations valued at over 10 million dollars. These projects involved corporations, utility companies, foundations, conservation organizations and individuals. Here are the results of some of the projects in which the BOR has played a role. Illinois Parks and Recreation 30 March/April, 1977 Land donation and bargain sale: The St. Joe Minerals Corporation donated 8,500 acres valued at S2 million to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to be used as a State park. A private citizen donated 20 acres with 1,500 feet of frontage on the South Platte River (valued at $100,000) to Adams County, Colorado, for recreation purposes. In Montana, an individual accepted $10,000 for 8.3 acres valued at $52,000. Missoula County is using this bargain sale property as an open space natural area. Leases and Easements: The Northern Indiana Public Service Company donated a lease for ten miles of a power line right-of-way near the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for a bikeway. Six miles of corridor owned by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company in Summit and Cuyahoga Counties, Ohio, were leased at no cost to the Cleveland Metropolitan District for a bike trail. The Wisconsin Electric Power Company leased 16 miles of right-of-way at no cost to three counties in southeastern Wisconsin for trail purposes. The Middle Rio Grande Conservation District of New Mexico donated a 16-acre recreation easement to Albuquerque. The city will construct a nine-mile trail at a cost of $143,000 on the property. Cooperative Management: A two-mile long physical fitness trail (parcours) is being developed by Kincheloe Air Force Base, Michigan. It will be for military and civilian employees and opened to the public. The U.S. Coast Guard has leased 710 acres to the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, to aid in the development of the city's 810-acre English Turn Wilderness Park. Fairchild Air Force Base at Spokane, Washington, has made an area available for model airplane enthusiasts. Cash Contributions: In Ohio the Cleveland Foundation provided $25,000 for the redevelopment of a neighborhood park in Cleveland. It also provided $20,000 to Cuyahoga Valley Park Federation for the preservation, protection and orderly development of Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. The Moody Foundation donated $200,000 to the County of Galveston, Texas to purchase 96 acres for recreational purposes. In Georgia, the Natural Science for Youth Foundation donated $25,000 as option money to bind the acquisition of 25 acres for Atlanta's Outdoor Activity Center. The Iowa Power and Light Company donated $1 million in cash to the Iowa Conservation Commission for the development of reservoir-based recreation facilities at Palo in Linn County. Experience has shown that private organizations and individuals are interested and willing to assist in the development of carefully selected recreation projects. However, only top quality, high priority projects which can be completed within a reasonable length of time will attract the interest and support of the private sector. If your organization is contemplating or has started a project where the Bureau's assistance could be utilized to enhance or help accelerate the completion of a project, contact the Lake Central Region's technical assistance section. The regional office staff would welcome the opportunity to discuss the project and to assist in obtaining the cooperation of private resources or governmental agencies as appropriate. The address is:
Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
Illinois Parks and Recreation 31 March/April, 1977 |
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