The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-13
possible then.

possible then.
 During the last two years 246 Amer ican cities have established play grounds for the first time and other communities to the number of 195, are now conducting campaigns for them. What the 195 cities now anxious to have facilities for play are to spend in the next few years can only be estimated. Orphan asylums hospitals for the insane, institutions for the feeble minded have made special pro- vision for the recreation of their wards The children in schools for the blind are almost as happy in their play as seeing children. Churches are giving the use of their grounds and county fairs have had playground ex- hlbits. Tn some cities both political parties in their platforms have declar- ed for outdoor recreation centers. Tn stockton and Fresno Cal, Camden, N. J., Philadelphia, Baltimore and Dallas, thousands of children have marched in monster parades asking for playgroundS.
 The playground propaganda in few years has attained a development which many causes have reached only after half a century. It's greatest danger has been it's rapid growth. All persons familiar with a certain S100,- 900 playground building in an Eas- tern city knows that if the bricks us- ed in it's construction had been left loose upon the ground the children would have played with the bricks more than they use their costly struc- ture. In another place a $1000O play ground has been as much used as an- other which cost ten times as much. Thousands of dollars have been vast ed because cities have planned their fairgrounds without knowledge Of what other municipalities have done. The Playground Association of Amer ica tries to help cities avoid such sQuandering of money, so that every dollar may be made to bring the 1arg- est possible amount of happiness. Besides the annual meeting which is now being held in Washington the as- sociation this year has held play ground institutes for New England in Holyoke, Mass. in Baltimore, for
 the middle Atlantic state, in Detroit. for the North Central and for the Northwest in Minneapolis. Another will probably be held for the South. These conferences have been for the discussion of practical playground problems.
 cities to secure capable playground
 workers A special committee has prepared a normal course in play. which is now, being used in seventeen educational institutions. Several uni versailles have professors of play A representative of the association is giving the greater part of his time to visiting normal schools for con- ferences and lectures.
 A thirty-six page monthly illustrat- ed magazine. The Playground, is pub lished by the association. It is read in China and Japan as we'll as in America and Europe A Playground ing detailed summary of the de- -velopments of the play movement during each preceding twelve months. Special studies of equipment and oth- CT playground problems are circulat- ed so that the entire country may avoid costly experiments. Lantern slides. cuts and photographs are loaned for special campaigns.
 The association has three playground efficiency engineers or experts. giving their entire time to visiting different cities. studying their needs and pos abilities and helping each to work out it's own problem There are 400 cities just beginning playgrounds. or in the early stages of their work. and only three field secretaries for all America.
 The budget of the association for this year is s50,00O. There is no en- dowment or guarantee fund. Every dollar for its work is secured in vol untary contributions. At a meeting of the Board of Directors at Hull House. Chicago, January 23rd, repre- sentatives from many cities came long distances to confer with Joseph Lee, Jane Adams and others regarding plans for an energetic campaign which should equip the association for meet ing the growing demands upon it. The need was so obvious to those most familiar with the work that several playground workers on small salaries have raised their own contributions from s to s100. One school principal who could not give money arranged to give ten lectures the proceeds of which shall go to the Association. Two New York men raised their pledges from s10O each to $1,00O each. The president of the association increased his pledge from $250 to s3,500 If the whole country responds as enthusias- tically as the leading workers have the Playground Association of Amer ica will be able to keep pace with the growth of the playground movement