[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 133 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10349-S10350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, on October 1, I introduced legislation, 
together with Senator Mikulski, to redesignate Catoctin Mountain Park 
as the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area.
  Catoctin Mountain Park is a hidden gem in our National Park System. 
Home to Camp David, the Presidential retreat, it has been aptly 
described as ``America's most famous unknown park.'' Comprising nearly 
6,000 acres of the eastern reach of the Appalachian Mountains in 
Maryland, the park is rich in history as well as outdoor recreation 
opportunities. Visitors can enjoy camping, picnicking, cross-country 
skiing, fishing, as well as the solitude and beauty of the woodland 
mountain and streams in the park.
  Catoctin Mountain Park had its origins during the Great Depression as 
one of 46 Recreational Demonstration Areas, RDA, established under the 
authority of the National Industrial Recovery Act. The Federal 
Government purchased more than 10,000 acres of mountain land that had 
been heavily logged and was no longer productive to demonstrate how 
sub-marginal land could be turned into a productive recreational area 
and help put people back to work. From 1936 through 1941, hundreds of 
workers under the Works Progress Administration and later the Civilian 
Conservation Corps were employed in reforestation activities and in the 
construction of a number of camps, roads and other facilities, 
including the camp now known as Camp David, and one of the earliest, if 
not the oldest, camps for disabled individuals. In November 1936, 
administrative authority for the Catoctin RDA was transferred to the 
National Park Service by Executive Order.
  In 1942, concern about President Roosevelt's health and safety led to 
the selection of Catoctin Mountain, and specifically Camp Hi-Catoctin 
as the location for the President's new retreat. Subsequently 
approximately 5,000 acres of the area was transferred to the State of 
Maryland, becoming Cunningham Falls State Park in 1954. The remaining 
5,770 acres of the Catoctin Recreation Demonstration Area was renamed 
Catoctin Mountain Park by the Director of the National Park Service in 
1954. Unfortunately, the Director failed to include the term 
``National'' in the title and the park today remains one of eleven 
units in the National Park System, all in the National Capital Region, 
that do not have this designation.
  The proximity of Catoctin Mountain Park, Camp David, and Cunningham 
Falls State Park, and the differences between national and State park 
management, has caused longstanding confusion for visitors to the area. 
Catoctin Mountain Park is continually misidentified by the public as 
containing lake and beach areas associated with Cunningham Falls State 
Park, being operated by the State of Maryland, or being closed to the 
public because of the presence of Camp David. National Park employees 
spend countless hours explaining, assisting and redirecting visitors to 
their desired destinations.
  My legislation would help to address this situation and clearly 
identify this park as a unit of the National Park System by renaming it 
the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area. The mission and 
characteristics of this park, which include the preservation of 
significant historic resources and important natural areas in locations 
that provide outdoor recreation for large numbers of people, make this 
designation appropriate. This measure would not change access 
requirements or current recreational uses occurring within the park. 
But it would assist the visiting public in distinguishing between the 
many units of the State and Federal systems. It will also, in my 
judgment, help promote tourism by enhancing public awareness of the 
National Park unit.
  I urge approval of this legislation.

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