Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-04
Cities Spend
Money for Play
Play Ground Association Shows Gen.
eral Interest in Movement Through
out United States.

NEW YORK. Jan. S.-The year book Of
the Playground Association Of America.
which has Just been brought out in this
city, will show that out Of 9t4 cities and
towns In the United states having a popu-
lation OF 5000 and over. 1886 m~unicipalities
are maintaining supervised Fairgrounds.
The actual number Of Fairgrounds that
were being operated In 267 OF these cities
during 1909 was 1885. About f~ifty-six per
cent OF these supervised places for the
play OF children are located in the area
OF greatest density of population. in the
North Atlantic states, where the need for
Fairgrounds has not only emphasized itself
strongly upon the social mind, but has
been met to a large extent by the actual
establishment Of Fairgrounds. The number
of cities in the North Atlantic states main
tanning Fairgrounds is i49. and the num-
Der of Fairgrounds established I'm 1923 Of
them is S7S. Massachusetts, particularly
has led in the playground movement, as in
so many other movements for progress
and social betterment.
In about forty-nine per cent Of the cities
operating public Fairgrounds the manag-
ing authority, wholly or in part, is the
city Itself, which is working through its
board of education, its park department.
or other municipal ~bureau-or by combin-
ing the activities of the two or more de-
partments. In fifteen cities of the United
States the mayors have appointed special
commissions which are organized as city
departments for the administration Of play
grounds. Fairgrounds are no longer left
to the ~philanthropist; the cities them
selves have awakened to their RESPONSE
bilities and are including the children in
their plans.
In fifty-five Of the larger cities local
playground associations have been estab-
lished, and many of the smaller towns
have organized playground cimmittees that
will shortly be converted into permanent
organizations. OF great assistance have
been the churches, women's clubs, Young
Mems Christian associations, Associated
Charities, and publlc-spirited men and wo-
men everywhere.
An index of the interest of the movement
is afforded by a survey Of the figures rep
resenting the yearly expenditures for sites,
equipment and the maintenance of play
grounds. In many cases specific informa-
ton on this point is not available, but 1S4
cities have sent in reports stating defln-
itely what 1t costs them to operate their
Fairgrounds. The total amount expended
during the year by these 1S4 cities is 81, 1885,
ia. In eighteen per cent of the cities the
amount of money set apart for Fairgrounds
was appropriated entirely by the munich
palitys While in twenty-three per cent the
city combined with private organizations
in the support of the Fairgrounds.
One of the most important results Of the
study and thought that have been devoted
to the recreation problem is the general
recognition that the play leader, rahter than
elaborate equipment, is the essential factor
in the playground. Get the right man or
woman to lead boys and girls in their
play, and all other things will follow.
hundred and fifty-nine cities in the
United States reported that they are en-
ploying 1856 such leaders in their play
grounds.