Lamentations from a Senator.

One of the highlights of the National Recreation and Park Association's 2004 National Legislative and Policy Forum, held Feb. 25-29 in Washington, D.C. was Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who spoke about "Reinvesting Federal Resources."

Alexander is no stranger to parks and recreation, having been politically involved with the cause during his governorship of Tennessee from 1979 to 1987. In 1984 President Ronald Reagan asked Alexander to chair the President's Commission on Americas Outdoors. "I've grown up at the edge of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in East Tennessee and that's a big part of my being--the outdoors and the park and so for all those reasons, I said yes."

Alexander said the commission held hearings nationwide to develop its initiatives. "We understand that America works community by community," he said.

Their report centered on the need for greenways, scenic byways, an environmental ethic, a more localized focus on parks with a special emphasis on urban parks, outdoor recreation, conservation easements, clean air, clean water, and the creation of a billion-dollar fund to support the land and water conservation initiatives. The result of the report helped renew some of the most vital programs for park and recreation departments: the Land and Water Conservation Fund, National Scenic Byways, the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program, among others.

Twenty years later, Alexander reflects on the commission's report for the benefit of NRPA members in attendance. "Of the ideas that we sought to promote, we have seen an explosion of greenways across the country" he said. But there still has not been effective improvement in other areas from the report, he said.

Namely the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which he would like to see a steadier stream of federal funds flowing into the program. But, Alexander cautioned, there is discussion right now in the House and the Senate as to where to get that money and who should receive it. "There may be some choices to make as we make our way through on creating a steady stream of money," he said, adding that he wants to work with organizations such as NRPA to develop a strategy for broader support of this initiative.

Alexander also pointed out that he would like to see more of an effort to keep the nation's parks clear of air pollution. "The park next to where I live has become the most polluted national park in America. I'd rather not see the air I breathe," he said. "We're going to be working hard in our state to try to come into compliance, but we're not going to be able to do that if we don't have a strong national standard."

Creating and protecting easements around city parks were among the other suggestions Alexander had on advancing the commission's cause.

"Italy has its renaissance, England has its history and America has the great outdoors," Alexander concluded. "It is the great American outdoors, and we can teach that every day in every park we have."