Norwich bulletin., 1911-05-24


 URGES FAIRGROUNDS Scope and Purpose of the Movement
 Clearly Set Forth.
 
 At the present time, when there is so much interest taken in the contenl plation of establishing playgr0unds fol the. children of Norwich, Physical Di. rector Bandlow of the Y. M. c. A. whcse experience and interest in this work leads him to urge the establish ment of such playgro9nds, believes tha' if the citizens of Norwich were awars of the magnitude of this project. anc could see the work that has been done in other ANerican cities. many of them smaller than Norwich. they would gaiT a clearer and more intelligent idea ol this work and fts benefits. The play ground congress held in Washington D. C.. this month it's fifth annual con vention.. and the following article rel alive to it's scope and purpose is fur nished by the secretary of the asso- citation, Howard Bronslow. It is as good a statement as can be found:
 Are the people of the United States interested in playgrounds? In three weeks in December, 1910. our office. re- ceived over one thousand letters iron all parts of the country asking abou playground problems. Last June when the Playground Association 0 America held it's congress at Roches ter, over four thousand people wef' present at some of the sessions, ye the association was not organized unit 1906.
 Purpose.
 sIts purpose is to promote. normal wholesome play and public recrea tion At first all the strength of the asso ciation was concentrated on securing playgrounds for children. Irr 1907, 9' cities had playgrounds. In 1909 tn' number had risen to 336. This year>th roster of cities will be about 800.
 I he success of the playgrounds fol tion centers for grown people. Cite: found that the most effective means of fighting low dives, bad dance halls and other vicious pleasure resorts, Il in opening the public school building or some other suitable place, and pro viding chance for pleasure an1 ns amusement in decent surroNndings Already school buildings are -used a recreation centers in IT cities.
 When the Playground Association 0 America was organized no one imag ined that in the year 1909-1910 eigh American cities alone would authoriz' bond issues for play centers tosthe to. tai amount of s2,000, 900. sor that Gin cinnati would this year spend s1.000, GOO for public recreation. and Grane Rapids $200,000. That four thousand people would now be employed in tn work of play in the United States, o that rural eenters would be establish! ing playgrounds as at Tamalpais Cen ter, Cal, would have been thought i'm possible then.
 Many Cities Establish Grounds.
 During the last two years 246 Amer ican ciies have established play grounds for the first time, and othe communities to the number of 195 ar now conducting campaigns for them What the 195 cities now anxious | have facilities for play are to. spend il the next few years can only be esti mated. Orphan asylums hospitals fo the insane, institutions for ths feebb minded have made special provision for the tion of their wards. Tn children in schools for the blind ar almost as happy in their play as see'n: children. Churches are giving the us of their grounds and county fairs hay had playground exhibits. In some citie both political parties in their plat forms have declared for outdoor recre alton centers. In Stockton and Fresno Cal, Camden, N. J., Philadelphia. Bal timore and Dallas thousands of chil dren have marched in monster parade asking fer playgrounds
 The playground propaganda in a feF
 
 which many causes have reached onl. after half century. Its greatest dan ger has been it's rapid growth. Al persons familiar with a certain s100. 900 playground building in an eastefl city know that if the bricks used in it construction had been left loose upol the ground the children would hay played With the bricks more than the use, their costly structure. In anothe place a s10,000 playground has bee as much used as another which cos ten times as much. Thousands of dol lars have been wasted because -citie have planned their playgrounds with out knowledge of what other munici palities have done. The Playgroun' Association of America tries to hei cities avoid such squandering of none so that every dollar may be made t bring the largest possible amount o happiness
 Ground at HoIyoke.
 Besides the annual meeting the as now being held in Washington, the as sociati.,n this year has held playgroun institute es for New England in Hofyoke Mass. in Baltimore for the middle Al lantic states, in Detroit for the nortl central. and for the northwest in Mir aeapolis. Another will probably D held for the south. These conference haze been for the discussion of praS tlcal playground problems.
 400 Cities Beginning Grounds.
 The association helps the differen cities to secure capable playgroun workers. A special committee has pre- pared norma! course in play, whicl is now being used in IT educatiopa institutions. Several universities hay professors of play. A representativ of the association is giving the greate part Of his time to visiting norma schools for conferences and lectures.
 A 36- page monthly illustrated masa zine, The Playground is published D the association. It is read in Chin and Japan as well as in America an, Europe. X Playground Year Book i published annually, giving a detaile summary of the developments of tn play mov ament during each precedin twelve months. Special studies 9 equipment and other playground prob lems are circulated so that the entir country may avoid costly experiments Lantern slides. cuts and photograI h are loaned for special campaigns.
 The association has three playgroan efficiency epgir eers or experts. givin their entire time to visiting differen cities. studying tn eir needs and possi biiities and helping each to work ou it's own problem. There are 400 cite just beginning playgrounds, or in tn
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