John Sarbanes: “On October 1, I introduced legislation, together with Senator Mikulski, to redesignate Catoctin Mountain Park as the…”

“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.”