At a ceremony in the headquarters of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration here, the American Bicentennial National Park in Israel, a project of the Jewish National Fund of America, received the official endorsement of the government of the United States, A citation granting official recognition of the new JNF project and the flag bearing the Bicentennial emblem, were presented by the Bicentennial Administrator, John Warner, to Meyer Pesin and Abram Salomon, national president and executive vice-president, respectively, of the JNF.
In making the presentation Tuesday, Warner declared that the American Bicentennial National Park was one of the most significant and impressive projects to be approved by his Administration. In response to an invitation extended to him by Pesin, Warner evinced the hope that he could visit the site of the park outside of Jerusalem in mid-June. It is also expected that he will be accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Kenneth B. Keating.
The park, which will cost $6 million, will link a large region southwest of Jerusalem with 200 years of American independence. It was formally initiated at the last national assembly of the JNF. The project also marks the 75th anniversary of the JNF.
MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT
This region, to be improved over a three-year period, will develop an ecological and forestry infrastructure in an area located within 25 miles of Jerusalem, with the immigrant township of Beit Shemesh as its center. Beit Shemesh serves the surrounding network of settlements.
The opening of arterial roads with the improvement of access between the area and Jerusalem, a system of recreation services, picnic areas, hiking routes, observation posts, the creation of special tourist sites, and the planting of 1,000,000 trees are among the major objectives of the project.
Other features of the park include a forestry museum and an observation gallery stop Mt, Ayalah, the highest peak in the southern Judean mountain chain. Also projected is a Hall of Honor to be designed by an outstanding American or Israeli architect and which will symbolize the bonds of friendship between the 200-year-old United States with the young State of Israel.
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