9. The creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was created as a social work relief program by FDR as part of the New Deal. Its intent was to provide work, sustenance and housing for young men, who were also paid a stipend, while completing construction projects for the public benefit. The CCC built parks, recreational campsites, docks and marinas, hiking trails, roads and pathways, observation towers, city sidewalks, and fences in America’s range of lands. Initially, it was bitterly opposed by conservatives, until the realization hit congressmen that the inclusion of CCC camps and projects in their districts added to their political prestige. It became one of the most popular of all New Deal programs.
The CCC camps were placed under the charge of the US Army Reserve, whose officers administered the camps. The workers were supervised by local contractors while working on projects, many of which continue to provide benefits to Americans today, though the CCC was disbanded nearly eighty years ago. It provided both work and work skills to young men at the height of the depression, who produced many of the features enjoyed today in National Parks as well as state and municipal parks and recreational sites across the country.