Interests of recreation visitors vary widely; so must the provisions for their recreation experience. Some visitors prefer outdoor activities which make few demands upon the land resource: photography, painting, walking, relaxing, and nature study. Here use is often dispersed, and the manager's job, which is relatively easy, is to protect the setting and provide only primitive conveniences. Others are interested in an activity or sport which results in greater concentrations of visitors as in driving for pleasure, camping, picnicking, or water skiing. Here more intensive developments are usually necessary.

In either case a recreation area, to be beautiful and enjoyed, must embrace a pleasing combination of topography and plant or animal life. It must be in harmony with its natural surroundings and with other forest and recreation uses. To preserve and maintain the natural attraction and its beauty while providing for its use, the manager must understand each use and its impact on the resource. And his task must go beyond that of managing the resource and its facilities. He must provide an opportunity for the visitor to gain a better understanding and appreciation of nature and of the use of land. Visitors of all ages can be given an opportunity to participate through nature centers, informational signs, and outdoor classroom activities.

PICKING THE RIGHT PLACE AND PROTECTING IT

Design for visitor facilities must consider topography, soil, and local climate. For example, a small hollow can serve to hide a necessary but unattractive parking lot, sanitary structure, or work area. A picnic or campsite should take advantage of a gentle slope with good drainage, correct exposure to the sun, and prevailing winds for coolness or warmth. To prevent diminishing the value of the special attraction that draws visitors, a camp or picnic ground and related installations should be set apart from that attraction. If the area suitable for recreational development is small, camp and picnic facilities can be clustered to minimize preemption of the natural scene.

Protection of soils and vegetation between individual camp or picnic units often requires controls, such as barriers of vegetation, wood, or stone. Even when protective measures are taken, however, wear and damage will occur. Gradual attrition of site values must be offset by scheduling regular and continuing maintenanceplanting, fertilization, or irrigation. Many of the principles of location, protection, and maintenance can also be applied to more extensive landscapes. Overdevelopment along scenic drives, for instance, can be avoided by grouping service and business structures close to large recreation site developments.

Streams and lakes contribute immensely to the beauty of the environment, reflecting and serving as contrasts to surrounding trees and mountains, supporting aquatic life, or providing the means for many water-oriented recreational activities. Of primary concern is the purity and clarity of the water itself. If its beauty is to be fully realized, we must insure against abnormal siltation, and biologic, chemical, and thermal pollution. To this end, cooperation from the public and management measures well beyond the recreational attraction itself are often necessary. In providing for appropriate access and use, special controls or treatments are often needed to protect delicate vegetation and unstable soils on the banks of streams, lakes, and reservoirs. Developments, roads, and trails must be located to minimize environmental disturbance.

Water attracts a wide variety of activities: nature study, fishing, swimming, canoeing, power boating, water skiinguses which often conflict. Each has its place. Full use and enjoyment of a beautiful setting often require the separation of uses as, for example, assigning appropriate areas or times for each activity.

ACCENT ON HISTORY

Trails and other recreation travel routes can be much more than a "way to get there." With appropriate signs, maps, and guide leaflets, travel routes can become an open book on the natural and cultural history of the countryside. New routes should be located so as to highlight points of interest and vary the range and content of the scenic view. Locating overlooks with the broadest possible view is not always advisable; rather, the point chosen should give the most meaningful or dramatic view.

Even in areas set aside for their natural or wild character, certain management or control measures must be applied. Dispersed use should be encouraged, for large groups tend to destroy the mood and character of wild surroundings as well as the resource itself. Management of the area should insure that dispersed rather than concentrated use prevails. And natural beauty can best be maintained by persuading visitors to keep the area clean.

Much of America's beauty is related to its cultural as well as its natural history. Points of interest should be identified. An individual tree, a stand of trees, or a dwelling may commemorate some event in history. In such places, adequate space should be provided to meet the ecological and esthetic requirements of the site as an aid in recreating or maintaining the original mood and beauty.

SIGNS THAT ENHANCE ENJOYMENT

Signs are a standard fixture in the American outdoors. When designed with care, they complement the beauty and use of the natural scene. They are a means of communication in the outdoor environment. They guide the traveler to his destination, remind him of rules of use and safety, warn him of danger, inform him of things and events, and identify forest and park boundaries and activities within them.

Signs that guide, remind, and warn are placed prominently where they best serve their purpose. Identification signs are placed to indicate ownership or management jurisdiction of forest lands and to call attention to ranger stations, information centers, or other headquarters where information and services are available. Informational and interpretive signs are useful and welcome in places such as roadside rests, scenic overlooks, information sites, and along forest trails. Relaxed and seeking diversion, visitors like to read an attractive sign that tells something interesting about the locality. Interpretive signs enrich the visitor's experience in the forest and make it more enjoyable. They usually are the most eye appealing of all. Their designs use art, photography, color, and simple shapes, and include longer narrative messages.

Fitting the Sign to the Environment

All signs in a specific area should be planned for at one time. This helps to keep signs to the least number and prevents duplication, conflict, and omissions. Signs in a common zone should complement one another in theme as well as in design.

For best results, the site is selected and its features are known before the sign is designed. A site plan is commonly used for this purpose. The designer must know the site's limitations and its available opportunities; for example, whether the sign for the site can be read from a car at high speed or whether it is best for the relatively unhurried atmosphere of a rest area, information turnout, or overlook.

Signs that attract visitors should be landscaped to assure safe stopping, easy walking, and a pleasing atmosphere. Messages should be related to what can be seen from scenic turnouts. An important goal is to achieve balance among all design features including association with the environment. Signs are properly designed and placed when the functional purpose is served, yet the sign or poster itself is hardly noticed.

Designing an Attractive Sign

Design that appeals to sight and emotion, and has imagery, dignity, and purpose usually leads to public acceptance. For example, a historical sign that creates the feeling that "but for the years, I was there" has succeeded in its mission.

The text is the principal feature of the sign and is the reason for the sign's existence. All other features are designed to exhibit the message in its most effective and pleasing form. Readability, brevity, and accuracy are prime considerations when preparing texts for all signs. Other considerations for signs that inform or interpret include friendly and informal tone, and development of a single subject.

The textual effectiveness and attractiveness of the sign may be improved with good headlines, a wise choice of lettering, skillful use of art work, and professional blending of colors. Use of a uniform shape, arrangement of symbols, and colors for the same kind of sign are also good design techniques. These techniques should complement, but never overwhelm the sign's message.

Wood is a widely used material for signs in a forest environment. It is strong, attractive, and versatile. Other materials are used with wood or alone if special properties are required. Once the sign is in place, it must be kept as near to its original specifications as possible through maintenance and scheduled replacement.

LINKING BEAUTY AND UTILITY THROUGH COMMUNICATION

People respond to scenic beauty through visual and thought impressions. What the eye sees can create an emotional response to a landscape. Often this response is stronger if one is also knowledgeably aware of the natural and human forces at work in nature.

Through verbal and visual communication people can come to know and appreciate what they are seeing and thus, perhaps, perceive beauty and enlarge their concepts of it. Perception of beauty is one goal of an informational program; an equally important goal is the understanding of the relationship between man and the natural resources, including the management and use of these resources.

Many media are available for informing the public about the scenic outdoors. Some of these involve personal services in the form of campfire programs, conducted walks, informal talks, and public contacts at information stations. Other media allow visitors to find out things by themselves. These include signs along highways and trails, exhibits indoors and outdoors, audio stations, and publications.

It is important for the planner to become familiar with these tools and learn the advantages and limitations of each. In this way it will be possible to select the communications medium that is best suited for the purpose at hand. The following are steps in planning for successful public communications:

*Determine the geographical extent of the area your program will cover. The area should be a planning unit where all information devices and programs are interrelated and considered together. In one place, the unit might be a single vista point, requiring only one sign; in another, it might include a whole park or forest where several devices will be used.

*Within the area selected, make a survey to identify needs and opportunities for telling about beauty and use.

*Analyze potential audiences in such terms as their size, how they will use the area, and their interests.

*Select the site where each opportunity can be best developed.

*Select the best information medium for each communications need.

*Prepare a well-coordinated plan of action for your outdoor information program. This should include what is to be done; where it is to be done; development and operational schedule; estimate of development and maintenance costs; and manpower needed to operate and maintain the program.