ABSTRACT
The central dilemma of outdoor recreation planning is how to ameliorate its special forms of congestion so that the regenerative qualities of nature in the open can be enjoyed without discrimination by those who possess the appetite for its rewards. Planning for recreation is an extraordinarily difficult intellectual and political task. The initial dilemma for the outdoor recreation planner is posed by the lack of guidelines for decisions. The freedom with which people move about the region in pursuit of outdoor recreation greatly complicates its planning: meeting recreation needs may begin with the urban community, but the planning horizon must stretch far beyond the city limits. The rate of growth is truly remarkable, and it takes its basic character from the processes of urbanization which gave it birth. The relationship of comprehensive physical planning to the needs, wants, and demands of urban populations has always been a special issue for the city planner.
