ourWay T his year, recreationists and conservationists alike will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of public rivers and trails. On October 2, 1968, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the National Trails Act were passed. At the time, outdoor enthusiasts and congressional champions demanded free-flowing rivers and long-distance trails to balance a national policy of rampant dam building and a lack of connection to the outdoors and historically significant places. These monumental acts of Congress marked the beginning of more than a decade of environmental lawmaking, protecting natural attributes like air and water quality, and institutionalizing public participation in environmental reviews. These acts also brought rivers and trails - the networks that connect communities to public lands - to the forefront of American consciousness. W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | A P R I L 2 0 1 8 | Parks & Recreation 39