"Planner and originator of the Appalachian Trail and a cofounder of the Wilderness Society, Benton MacKaye (1879-1975) was a pioneer in linking the concepts of preservation and recreation. Spanning three-quarters of a century, his long and productive career had a major impact on emerging movements in conservation, environmentalism, regional planning, and, most recently, New Urbanism.

MacKaye's seminal ideas on outdoor recreation, wilderness protection, land-use planning, community development, and transportation have inspired generations of activists, professionals, and adventurers seeking to strike a harmonious balance between human need and the natural environment.".

"This pioneering biography provides the first complete portrait of this significant and unique figures in American environmental, intellectual, and cultural history. Drawing on extensive research, Larry Anderson traces MacKaye's career, examines his many published works, and describes the importance of MacKaye's relationships with such influential figures as Lewis Mumford, Aldo Leopold, Myron Avery, and Walter Lippmann.

This book will appeal to students, scholars, and professionals in preservation, conservation, recreation, planning and American studies, as well as to general readers interested in these subjects."--BOOK JACKET.