43.99A.010 - Declaration of purpose.

Declaration of purpose.

The state of Washington possesses unsurpassed natural wealth in the form of mountains, forests, and waters, ideal not only for recreation, but for supplying the special kind of spiritual regeneration that only close association with the outdoors can provide. As the state grows in population, this wilderness is increasingly threatened; prompt action is necessary to preserve it before much of it permanently disappears. Further, the physical expansion of our cities and towns has made it imperative that outdoor breathing space be set aside and permanently reserved for the people who live in them. Such breathing space may take the form of "green belts" especially planned to relieve the monotony of miles of uninterrupted urban or suburban development, or it may take the form of traditional parks. In any case, it must be acquired as soon as possible, while land is still available; and where appropriate, this land must be developed in order to meet the recreational needs of growing numbers of potential users.

[1967 ex.s. c 126 § 1.]