The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-29
Palisades Gateway
 For Million Autos
Interstate Park Commission Manages 72 Square Miles in Individual Regions in New York and New Jersey

vate- funds, and eventually the bias (ting was stopped. The urge to conserve eminently beautiful coun- try was one of the primary motives that created the Park system in the beginning. The same objectives hold true today and in addition, the Commissioners are bending every effort to provide adequate recrea- tional facilities for the hosts of men, women and children who come in increasing numbers to es- cape from the cities.
 In time the New Jersey Parks were extended to embrace virtually all of the river front between the George Washington Bridge and the New York State line. Other Parks were acquired from time to time in New York State. Tallman Mountain and Hook Mountain State Parks on the Hudson, in the vicinity of Ny ack and Haverstraw, were added to the original holdings. All of the River Parks are now completely equipped with recreational facilities. Storm King State Park was given to the public domain in 1922. On November IT, 1941 statue of Walt Whitman was dedicated in Bear Mountain State Park to commem- crate the founding of this, the larg- est section of the park system, by Mary Williamson Hartman. Mrs. Hartman had presented 10000 acres of land and one million dol- lars for its operation, to the people of the State in 1910.
 The Parks have. grown constant ly since their original establishment. In the past twelve months the park ing and picnicking spaces in the Bear Mountain Hartman State Park were increased by fifty per cent The lowered toll on the Bear Mountain Bridge brings added thousands of visitors to the area and as result, record crowd of more than twenty thousand wit messed one of the twelve ski jump ing tournaments held during the winter season of 1941. During the summer months, Park attendants have recorded a notable increase in auto license plates from counties east of the Hudson and from Con- necticut.
 During the years of development, twenty two lakes were con- structed for recreational and gen. eral park use in the Bear Mountain Hartman state park. Tn all there are thirty-two lakes in this section Nearly one hundred organized camp groups have appeared about the water areas. There are also many public beaches in the various parks in addition to one of the largest fresh water swimming pools in the east, located near Bear Mountain Inn. National swimming contests are staged in this pool throughout the summer. Eleanor Holm and Gloria Callen are among those who have won national swimming recog- milton in this pool. Rowboating has grown to great proportions on Pali- sades Interstate Park lakes with some twelve hundred boats in al- most constant operator durng the warmer months. Practically every form of sport and recreation may be encountered in Bear Mountain Park. Roller skating on two large rinks, indoor and outdoor ice skat. ing, excellent skiing on slopes ant trails. a ski tow. ice boating tobog' aiming, hockey. baseball, tennis canoe races, archery, and many other forms of athletic activity arr encouraged by the park commission the year around.
 The Bear Mountain Trailside Mu' seums. located near the Beal Mountain Bridge. are open to th' public without charge during ever day Of the year. Separate building present exhibits of geological aiit mlneraloglcal features of the Hud' son Highlands: botany, Indain lorl and local history and displays o llve animals and birds. A mile O
 Nature Trails wlnd through thl fifty.seven acre area t0 inform vls' lt0Fs Of the fora and fauna of thl region by means Of many labels at laehed to natural objects along thl