Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-04
PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATIONS BE,
ING FORMED in MANY MI.
inequalities.
WORK LARGELY CONDUCTED
UNDER CITY GUIDANCE
More Than 500 Cities Of More Than
5000 Population Maintaining Super.
vissd Playsrounds-NationaI Asseei.
alton Outlines Growth Of Move
nent.

the Playground Association of Amer
lea which has just been brought out In
this city win show that out Of 9l4 cit.
les and towns in the United States hav-
ing a population Of 5000 and over, 1886
municipalities are maintaining super
vised Fairgrounds.
The actual number Of Fairgrounds
that were being operated in 2s7 Of
these cities during 1909 was 1855.
About Sc per cent of these supervised
places for the play of children are To-
Gated in the area of greatest density Of
population, in the North Atlantic
states, where the need for Fairgrounds
has not only emphasized itself strong
ly upon the social mind, but has been
met to large extent by the actual
establishment of Fairgrounds. The
number of cities in the North Atlantic
States maintaining Fairgrounds is 149
and the number of Fairgrounds estab-
lished in 1913 of them is 1913. Massachu-
sets particularly has led in the play
ground movement, as in so many other
| movements for progress and social bet
lterment.
In about 40 per cent of the cities
operating public Fairgrounds the man.
aging authority, wholly or in part, is
! the city itself. which is working thru
its board. of education. its park depart
ment, or other municipal bureau-or by
combining activities of two or more
departments. In fifteen cities of the
| United States the. mayors have APP
pointed special commissions which are
organized as city departments for tho
administration Of Fairgrounds. Play.
rounds are no longer left to the phil
anthropist: the cities themselves have
awakened to their responsibilities ani
are including the children in theil
plans.
In fifty-five of the larger cities loca
playground associations have been es.
ltablished, and many Of the smaller
towns have organized playground com
mittees that will shortly be converted
! into permanent organizations. OF grea'
assistance have, been the churches
women's clubs, Young Mems Christian
Associations, Associated Charities, anG
.public-spirited men and women every.
where.
An index of the interest in the move.
ment is afforded by a survey of the fig
ures representing the yearly expendi'
lures for Sites, equipment, and tn,
maintenance OF play grounds. In man.
cases specific information on this poin
lis not available, but 1874 cities hav,
sent in reports stating definitely wha
lit costs them to operate their play
grounds. The total amount expended
during the year by these 1874 cities j:
$1,353,114. In Is per cent of the cities
the amount of money set apart fo
1 Fairgrounds was appropriated entirel.
by the municipality, while in % pc
/ cent. the city combined with privat,
organizations in the support of tn,
Fairgrounds.
One of the most important results .
the study and thought that has beer
devoted to the recreation problem is tn
general recognition that the play leade
rather than elaborate equipment
! the essential factor in the playground
Get the right man or woman to lea:
boys and girls in their play, and al
other things will follow. Two hundre,
] and fifty-nine cities in the Unite.
States reported that they are employ
/ ing 1856 such leaders in their play
grounds. sss-s4s7xa.