PRECA 03-03-1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PHILOSOPHY The role that recreation plays in contributing to man's environment can assist in the decisions for providing of recreational opportunita,e$. Recreation can provide enjoyment and aid in creating an environment for mature, well adjusted persons, capable of making their maximum contribu tion to society. More specifically, recreation can assist the develop- Tent of 1. Physical health - by not only providing for, but enGOUrag- ing the use of the physical activities and programs. ~. Mental health - by using recreation as a release from the pressures of everyday life. 3. The social adjustment of the individual - by encouraging social interaction through recreational activities. 4. Intellectual and aesthetic expression - by providing pro- grams 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 complementary physically and programatically to other park lands. • The integrity of any system depends on several factors, but most im- portant 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 re- construction of natural amenities regardless of physical or econ- omic committment. A4an, 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 conservation 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. 2/20 ~~