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Halfsheet vintage poster for the
"Summer in the Parks" program, an innovative community-based recreation initiative launched by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) in July 1968. The iconic "Laughing Tree" logo was created by the notable cartoonist and satirist Robert C. Osborn.
Program Details
Initiative: "Summer in the Parks" was a program designed to bring free concerts, children's activities, and recreational opportunities to residents in national parks and other locations across Washington, D.C..
Artist: Robert C. Osborn was a renowned cartoonist for various magazines and a decorated Navy veteran who created safety cartoons during WWII.
Logo Origin: The idea for the logo came when a program coordinator asked his children to draw what summer in a park meant to them. Two drew trees, and a third added a smile, inspiring Osborn's final design.
Usage: The "Laughing Tree" logo became synonymous with the program and was featured on posters, banners, buttons, and even park trash cans to create a "character of freshness and distinction".
Legacy: The success of this program led to the creation of the year-round "Parks for All Seasons" program in 1970 and continued until 1976. screen print |
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