PUBLIC RECREATION ON PRIVATE LANDS

Not long ago most citizens of the United States had easy access to rural areas. Wooded lands, forests and pastoral settings were available to the greater portion of the populous. During the past one hundred years however, the nation's population has changed from being primarily rural to overwhelmingly urban. Therefore, the average resident of a large metropolitan area must travel considerable distance to gain access to rural recreation sites. For people In the lower Income ranges, the cost of traveling to distant recreation sites Is often prohibitive. Furthermore, demand for outdoor recreation has Increased In recent years.