ADDRESS, GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON RECREATION

AND PARKS

ANNAPOLIS
April 21, 1961

It is a delight to me to be here today for this tenth annual Gov-
erner's Conference on Recreation and Parks.

It is appropriate, I think, that this meeting is being held in An-
napolis, for it was ten years ago that he first of these annual confer-
ences was held in this historic capital of the State of Maryland. Look-
ing over the past decade, we see an ever-increasing emphasis on the
value of providing adequate parks and recreational facilities for the
citizens of our State. This is highly encouraging, because it means
that Marylanders are putting into practice the precept so ably ex-
pressed by a Roman poet—that a wise man should ask of heaven no
more than a healthy soul in a healthy body.

Longer vacation, longer week-ends, more leisure in general, is the
order of the day. It is the obligation of the State, as I see it, to pro-
vide the facilities by which our citizens may use this leisure wisely.
William Lyon Phelps, the eminent American educator and author,
wrote these lines:

"Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental develop-
ment... are the happiest people in the world; and they are not
only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others. "

I am interested in outdoor recreation for a number of reasons, but
primarily because of its effect upon our society. We must encourage
sound minds in sound bodies if we expect to maintain a healthy
society....

During the ten years in which these conferences have been held, em-
phasis has been placed on the necessity of providing both indoor and
outdoor recreation. This increase in key recreational activities has
been particularly noted in county and local community activities. To
assist these local communities in this vitally important work, we have
for the first time, created the position of recreation supervisor in our
Department of Forests and Parks.

In the area of forests and parks, this Administration has given high
priority to the acquisition of land for recreational use to provide for
the rapidly growing population of the State. We have an active com-
mittee now at work on a master plan for recreation areas and State

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