Legacy of Parks facts for kids
The Legacy of Parks program was a special plan in the 1970s. It was part of a bigger idea called New Federalism, which was supported by the Nixon administration (President Richard Nixon's government). This program gave federal land (land owned by the national government) to states. The goal was to use this land for history, culture, and fun activities.
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What Was the Legacy of Parks Program?
In 1972, the U.S. Congress set aside $200 million for this program. This money came from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. The main goal was to protect wild areas and save open spaces, especially near cities.
How Did It Work?
Local governments could get money to help create new parks, playgrounds, and open areas. The program offered "matching funds," meaning the federal government would pay half the cost if the local government paid the other half. They focused on improving land that was already public. A big part of the program was making sure the land could be used for many kinds of fun activities.
Why Was It Important?
The program believed that everyone in America should have different types of natural places to enjoy. This included parks with modern facilities and quiet wilderness areas. It meant that families, tourists, and outdoor lovers all had a right to enjoy these parks equally.
How the Program Grew
To help the program, President Nixon asked for more money for open space projects. These projects were managed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. He also created a group called the Federal Property Review Board. This board looked at federal land to see if it could be turned into parks.
Parks Across the Country
By the late 1970s, the Legacy of Parks program had helped buy over 700,000 acres of land. This land was used for many things, like:
- Playgrounds
- Forests
- Environmental education areas
- Bike trails
- Jogging paths
Many of the parks in cities were smaller, often less than 20 acres. But some parks were much larger. For example, Michigan's Fort Custer Recreation Area is 3,000 acres. The Gateway National Recreation Area in New York and New Jersey is a huge 26,600 acres!
