Release No. 0329.96


                                     Mike O'Connor  (202)205-0979
                                     Jim Petterson  (202)720-4623

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WASHINGTON, DC COMMUNITY DEDICATE URBAN TREE HOUSE

     WASHINGTON, June 21, 1996--Children of the Washington, DC community will
now be able to  visit' areas across the United States via the D.C. Urban Tree
House, a specially designed wooden platform in Anacostia Park in Southeast
Washington, DC. 

     The Urban Tree House was dedicated today by dignitaries including
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and Forest Service Chief Jack Ward Thomas. 
"This heralds a unique opportunity for children of the Washington, DC
metropolitan community to learn about our country's natural resources," said
Glickman.

     The Urban Tree House is designed to help change the perception that
forests and outdoor recreation are something out of reach to many people in
urban areas.  In the future, the Urban Tree House will host professionals from
government agencies, universities, non-profit groups, community organizations,
and industry on a regular basis to conduct activities designed to teach
children of the Washington, D.C. community about the country's natural
resources.  

      "Every American citizen has ownership of our nation's wondrous natural
resources.  Learning about them at a site such as this will encourage urban
youngsters to become actively involved in the protection, care, and restoration
of these natural resources," said Glickman.

     One objective of the Urban Tree House is to encourage visitors to make
connections between the community environment and the environment of the nation
by using its deck as an educational platform.  The deck is in the shape of the
Unites States and includes a huge compass to show directions and a sundial
which tracks time of day especially made for the D.C. latitude.  

     "Children can learn not only about the local Anacostia River, but also
 visit' the Mississippi River, hike the Appalachian Trail, follow Lewis and
Clark's journey, or  visit' the Rocky Mountains," said Thomas.
          
     Glickman said that the DC Urban Tree House dedication celebrates what
partners can accomplish by working together to achieve mutual objectives. 
Partners include:  USDA Forest Service, U.S. Department of the Interior's
National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management;
the National Forest Foundation, U.S. Navy, Environmental Protection Agency,
Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Home Depot, Earth Conservation Corps,
Anacostia-Congress Heights Partnership, D.C. Department of Consumer and
Regulatory Affairs, and the American Recreation Coalition.

     The Washington D.C. Urban Tree House is the second of four such projects. 
The first Urban Tree House is in Atlanta, Ga.  The remaining two Urban Tree
Houses are expected to be built in Portland, Ore. and Baton Rouge, La.

     The D.C. Urban Tree House is located within the National Park Service's
National Capitol Parks East, in Anacostia Park, at 1900 Anacostia Drive, S.E.,
Washington, D.C.  Persons interested in activities at the D.C. Urban Tree House
may contact Tina Short, Anacostia Park Manager, at (202)-472-3883.

    
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