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r PHILOSOPHY The role that recreation plays in ontributing to man's environment can assist in the decisions for providing of recreational opportunities. Recreation can provide enjoyment and aid in creating an environment for mature, well adjusted persons, capable of making their maximum contirubution to society. More specifically, recrea- tion can assist the development of: 1. Physical health - by not only providing for, but .encouraging the use of the physical activities and programs. 2. Mental health - by using recreation as a release from the pressures of everyday 1 i fe. 3. The social adjustment of the individual - by encouraging social inter- action through recreational activities. 4. Intellectual and aesthetic expression - by providing programs and facilities that enhance creative expression and environmental appreciation. A balance of the above characteristics is most important. Park and recreation lands and facilities need to be planned. so that the several pieces become a cohesive whole. Any one portion of park land within the system is important. The magnitude of that importance is an arithmetic progression when any' one piece of park and recreation open space land is an integral part of and comple- mentary physically and programatically to other park lands, The integrity of any system depends on several factors, but most important is a set of OBJECTIVES which become the ELEMENTS of the system. These ELEMENTS are: * Conservation the preservation of significant natural amenities such as lakes, streams, rapids, bog, forest, meadow, significant land forms, watershed areas, bluffs, etc. Preservation from destruction by all forms of urban enroachment. Natural amenities once destroyed are lost forever. There is no tomorrow in the reconstruction of natural amenities regardless of physical or economic committment. Man, with all his technological advancements cannot replace the visual effects of creation and time within the natural environment. It is imperative that conservation of natural resources be one of the primary thrusts of the Park and Recreation Open Space system, and con- servation within urban areas requires management and interpretation. * Ornamentation the decoration on the urban cake. Ornamentation is realized primarily through developing and maintaining the park beautiful . hills, water, grass, trees, flowers, shrubs, etc. The objectives of a park are predecated on an experience seeing, feeling, smelling. An experience that culminates in a mood, a happening, an inner feeling heightened by a variety of potentials, the very essence of a park. * Culture facilities such as historical places or structures, museums, statues, fountains, gardens, theatres, etc. are often found in or are themselves parks. These parks can be very restricted enclosed or .open spaces.