Last week we marked Earth Day and National Parks Week. .
Thinking about the environment and national parks brings to mind two of my favorite places, Hot Springs and the Buffalo River, both part of the National Park system and both in Arkansas.
Hot Springs has the distinction of being the first "federal reservation," so designated by President Andrew Jackson in 1832. As such, it is the oldest park managed by the National Park Service. After the Park Service was established in 1916, Yellowstone was the first to be designated a national park, with Hot Springs following in 1921.
The Buffalo became the first U.S. national river when it was placed under Park Service jurisdiction in 1972, intended to preserve it in its free-flowing natural state. .
Both Hot Springs and the Buffalo are major tourist attractions. But both face significant challenges.
Hot Springs, the smallest and only national park in an urban area, is based around natural hot springs that have been managed by the federal government for almost 185 years.
With its colorful history, scenic setting and nearby lakes and streams, Hot Springs has much to offer. That history includes visits by numerous prominent personalities, gambling (legal and otherwise), gangsters, home of the first baseball spring training camps, horse racing, and much more.
Central Avenue, with its historic Bathhouse Row, was deservedly designated as one of the nation's 10 Great Streets in 2014. And some of those bathhouses have been refurbished and taken on new functions such as the Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery. Other adaptive reuse, upgrading and restoration projects are under way.
Community leaders have pumped up the level of activity and attraction with music and film festivals, museums, art galleries, basketball tournaments, a water/amusement park for kids, etc. There are great restaurants. Garvan Woodland Gardens, just outside Hot Springs, is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture, and a true jewel.
And, of course, Oaklawn Racing and Gaming. It is often said that Arkansas has no major league professional sports, but that overlooks big-time horse racing at Oaklawn. Earlier this month, with almost 70,000 watching, the Arkansas Derby was won by American Pharoah, the likely favorite for this week's Kentucky Derby.
Despite all this, the city is plagued by empty buildings, eyesores and inertia. Last time I looked, the Majestic Hotel, where downtown Hot Springs begins, is surrounded by rubble, resulting from a fire in the abandoned structure in February 2014. And the Arlington Hotel, a landmark beloved by many, is still great for meetings and dining, but badly needs renovating.
Columnist Rex Nelson and Hot Springs boosters are trying to churn up statewide interest in helping Hot Springs live up to its historical repute, complemented by modern amenities.
Another Arkansas treasure that deserves attention throughout the state and beyond is the Buffalo River. The first national river didn't receive that distinction until a lengthy battle occurred and, despite its magnificence, some still take a rather cavalier attitude toward the need for special protection.
There were those who favored damming the river and the U.S. Corps of Engineers had plans for that. Dam supporters believed it would bring economic and recreational benefits.
However, concerned about the threat to the distinctive quality of the Buffalo, a group of conservationists with special appreciation for the Buffalo formed the Ozark Society in 1962, led by Dr. Neil Compton of Bentonville. That activist group became the center of support for preserving the river in its natural state.
The history of the national river designation has been the subject of some misinformation. Several key developments led to its eventual approval. As early as 1961, U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright had favored making the Buffalo part of the Park Service and helped arrange a study by the agency. Gov. Orval Faubus remained neutral for years, but in 1965 announced opposition to damming. Still, U.S. Rep. Jim Trimble, representing the district where the Buffalo is located, steadfastly favored damming.
A turning point came in 1966 when Republican U.S. Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt, who died earlier this month, defeated Trimble. In 1967, Fulbright and Sen. John McClellan introduced the first Buffalo National River legislation, but the bill didn't advance. They re-introduced the bill in 1969 and it won Senate approval. Hammerschmidt introduced a companion bill in the House, but it wasn't acted upon.
Again in 1971, Fulbright and McClellan re-introduced legislation, as did Hammerschmidt. All the while, Arkansas supporters kept pushing the issue. This time it passed both Houses and in March 1972, President Nixon signed the legislation into law.
In the years since, millions have enjoyed the Buffalo's pristine beauty. However, the battle of the Buffalo continues, currently involving concerns over protecting the area from industrial hog farms that might be established in the area; one has already been allowed. The state Pollution Control and Ecology Commission recently approved a third 180-ban on such operations in the Buffalo watershed and that restriction should be permanent.
Hot Springs National Park and the Buffalo National River are unique and extraordinary features of Arkansas. These national treasures need our vigilance and foresight.
Commentary on 04/29/2015