NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Park and Recreation Structures

WITH THE APPEARANCE of the National Park Service's publication "Park Structures and Facilities" in November 1935, demand for it soon indicated that another issue must follow. The earlier printing may be said to have been a doubly limited edition—limited in number to such an extent that requests for copies far outran the supply, and limited in scope because of its speedy production, made necessary by a pressing need in connection with the Emergency Conservation Work under way in national parks and monuments, State parks, and other natural park areas throughout the country. Moreover, the two years that have elapsed since the compilation of the original material have witnessed the completion of many park structures and facilities of enlarging variety and unusual merit. It is felt that these, in fact more of them than space permits, definitely deserve recording along with selections from the earlier book. With the intent of bringing the record up to date on a more comprehensive scale and under conditions imposing the least restrictions on its general availability, this revised and enlarged compilation is undertaken.

Civilian Conservation Corps funds sufficient to defray the cost of publication were allotted by Robert Fechner, Director of that popular and successful undertaking. Director Fechner's sympathetic understanding of the major problems of park and recreation development continues to be immensely helpful and encouraging to those whose privilege it is to be associated with him in the work.

In connection with much of the material submitted, there was regrettable lack of information to make possible rendering due credit to the many able planning groups and individuals, earnest artisans and mechanics, responsible for the structures herein illustrated. For this reason, it has seemed fairest to all concerned to credit the material, with few exceptions, to locations rather than to individuals or groups. A kind of equalization of injustice to all has seemed preferable to a discriminatory injustice to some. The practice has been pursued without intent to traffic in the anonymity of others in order to infer credit to the National Park Service. Such an interpretation would be unfortunate and unfair. Regardless of their source, it has been sought to include structures suitable to natural parks. Many, including some of the most notable accomplishments herein shown, were created entirely independent of Service participation. For the distinction these bring to this publication, and for the privilege of including them, the Service is most grateful.

The wonderful success of the first edition of this book two years ago may be attributed to the personal and untiring efforts of Albert H. Good, and, therefore, he was naturally selected as the author for this edition. Those who will have occasion to use these books will appreciate and realize the great amount of study and thought that he has put into his work. We are deeply indebted to him, and we acknowledge his high professional attainments.

Although the final selection of material and the writing of the general discussions and comments have devolved upon one individual, no publication could have been possible without the generous assistance of innumerable associates in the Service who submitted needed material with a tireless helpfulness which is the essential spirit of the National Park Service organization. To these, and to friends of the Service whose interest in park and recreation development has led them to hearty cooperation in this undertaking, we extend appreciative thanks.

CONRAD L. WIRTH, Director, National Park Service