Cover Page

Contents

Preface
Letter

SECTION I

Orientation
Summary

SECTION II

History
Needs
Geography
Historic Sites
Competitors
Economic Aspects

SECTION III

Federal Lands
State and Interstate
Local

SECTION IV

Division of Responsibility
Local
State
Federal
Circulation

SECTION V

Educational Opportunities

Governmental Income From Recreation

The Federal Government.—The Federal Government is not in the recreation business for the purpose of making money, but to serve the public welfare. It does derive, however, a certain amount of income from its recreational facilities.

In a number of the national parks an automobile entrance fee is charged, which in 1932 yielded a return of $455,034.50. Other receipts amounted to $365,619.60,⁹ making a total revenue of $820,654.10. In 1933 automobile returns yielded $371,813, other receipts $256,369.06, making a total revenue of $628,182.06. In 1934 automobile returns yielded $401,581.50, other receipts $329,750.30, making a total revenue of $731,331.80.

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⁹ Editor's note: Fiscal year figures given in this paragraph.

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Concessions of various types serving recreation seekers brought an income of $264,232.25 to the United States Forest Service in 1932, $278,182.35 in 1933, and $297,830.75 in 1934.¹⁰ Rental of summer home sites, at an annual cost per site ranging from $5 to $25, yielded a considerable portion of this total. On an annual sustained-yield basis no other source of income can compare with those sources which root in the public demand for recreation. Recreation has become a profitable branch of the Forest Service's business, and in this field the rental of summer home sites produces a comparatively high yield per acre.

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¹⁰ Editor's note: U. S. Forest Service figures.

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The States.—State income from recreation, produced as a direct result of park use amounted to $7,092,337.45 in 1930. This came from a wide variety of sources.

There has been a marked tendency during recent years to make State parks earn at least a part of their development and operation costs. Indiana has charged an entrance fee of 10 cents per person over 12 years of age, and this has brought in as much as $60,000 in a single year. Other States are giving serious consideration to the adoption of a similar plan.

Far commoner are charges for the use of certain types of park facilities, involving either special services or exclusive occupancy. Nearly all States collect locker fees in heavily patronized parks which offer bathing, and several collect fees for the use of supervised parking facilities. Rental of boats, canoes, and bathing suits, bathing fees, winter sport facilities and equipment, garage fees, picnicking fees, fuel sales, and other fairly common sources of income are collected directly from the park visitor. In addition, nearly all States—with Connecticut a notable exception—receive some income from concessions, chiefly hotels, eating places, stores, and gasoline stations.

The most notable of the special service fees is that charged for camping. In much the same class, however, are parking fees. The modern camp ground is just one step, in point of facilities offered, below the tourist cabin. It provides, ordinarily, safe water supply, safe sanitary facilities, and frequently shower baths; a place to cook meals; a table and benches; very often daylight shelter in case of bad weather; and police protection.

All of these forms of service involve both exclusive occupancy and special service. It is therefore submitted that the special service charge is a more equitable means of providing maintenance funds than is the straight entrance fee.

In some States, income from sources other than taxation is devoted to park purposes. These include such items as sales of boat licenses, fees on State-owned river beds in Iowa, sales of coal from beneath the Wabash River, and of sand from the bottom of Lake Michigan in Indiana. In State forests of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, considerable income was received from summer home-site leases, and from various other leases for recreational purposes.

The fisherman and the hunter, by payment of license fees, very largely support the State's fish and game activities, license income during the years 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933 being $9,391,000, $10,014,000, $13,855,000, and $6,624,000, respectively.

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Last Modified: Fri, Sep. 5, 2003 10:32:22 am PDT
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