“I fear I lack the art of book reviewing. I don’t know how to convey the sweep of the social history of this book, or its emotional color. At the end, Wiltse laments the passing of the great romantic pools and recalls his own experience of one in Seattle. They’re his most cherished childhood memories. Finishing “Contested Waters,” I felt I’d had a good course in America. All its traits, fine and lamentable are found here — the most vivid being, alas, our stinking racism.”

“A 2006 study of Los Angeles area parks by the City Project . . . found large disparities in park acreage in different City Council districts. Robert Garcia, the group’s executive director, says the upcoming study should address not only the amount of park space but the needs of various park users. ‘Different cultural groups [...]