The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-07-22
PLAYGROUND
Appeals With Such Force To
The People
That The Movement Has Very
Rapidly Spread
And Vast Sums Are Spent To
Promote II
Several Points On The Sub
jeCt Gone Into
By One Who Is Very Familiar
With The Movement
(By VIM. B. chapman)

l0eTe are 0HU ClUleS Ill Iue OulIeu
States of practically the same size as
Mt Vernon. Already "a of them are
operating public play grounds, and are
enthusiastic regarding their value to
the community. The idea of public
Fairgrounds well equipped and prop
erly supervised, has so appealed to
those interested in making the most
of our children, that the movement
has spread over.th the country with un-
precented rapidity.
$16,0OO,00O are now being spent ev-
cry year in the United States for ac-
quiring, equipping and supervising
public Fairgrounds The expense of
the Fairgrounds is usually entirely
paid by the city itself, and the work
is placed in charge of commission
who serve without pay This is, es.
pecially so in the larger cities. In
towns the size of Mt. Vernon, howev-
er, it is often found eXpedient to first
form an organization for getting the
work properly started, and demon
strating its value.
The playground is for people of all
ages. It's equipment always includes
sand box for the youngest children.
This is very popular corner of the
playground. In smaller places the
mothers of the very young children
often volunteer to take turns in pre-
siding over their play. The children
little older have swings and slides.
They will use as many swings as you
will supply. Half dozen is good
number for the average playground.
The slide or chute will keep more
piece of apparatus. Next comes the
tilt or see-saw. These are usually
made so as to prevent fingers from
being pinched.
Additional apparatus, though not SO
necessary as the foregoing, Is usual
ly provided. This consists of trap.
eze, letter ladder, horizontal ladder,
giant stride, vaulting horse, travelling
rings, etc.
1t is usually advisable when the
playground is fully developed, to have
a special place with apparatus separ-
are from the childrens corner, for
boys who do not happen to care for
\ base ball or foot ball, or who
do not belong to the gang" or are
not sufficiently expert to be members
of any regular team. Such appara-
tus will be found to employ more boys
to the square foot than will the ball
field.
AS far as possible provision should
be made for the larger boys to play
base ball, prisoners base and foot
ball. Also space should be provided
for basket ball, hand ball, tennis, teth-
er ball, quoits and croquet. 1t is es-
pecially desirable that the larger boys
be provided with ample space for play
ing competitive games, and that a
competent leader be placed in charge
of the playground.
On the play ground the greatest
lessons of life-justice, kindness and
fair play-can be taught as nowhere
else, and it has been the universal
experience of all those who have stu
died the question, that the right
choice of a playground director is OF
fully as much value as the equipment
itself.
Judges of the juvenile courts are
agreed that wherever Fairgrounds
have been equipped and properly man
aged, the amount of juvenile delin
quency has been greatly reduced In
a group of boys the worst character
will usually be the leader, but with q
good playground and suitable direc
tor in charge, the boys will find that
playing competitive games is better
excitement than breaking the law.
The cost of equipment is usually
about $780, for what might be called
all the essentials. A complete equip
ment for large playground will cos
at least twice that amount. The ex
pense, however, is often greatly re
duced by merely buying the detail
drawings of the apparatus (Which cal
be had cheaply) and the material, ant
then have the older manual training