The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-04
MONEY IS ASKED
f0RPlAYGROUNOs.
Committee Wants Council to
Appropriate $500 for
Children.
ORGANIZATIONS HELPING
Aid Requested to Get Suitable
Recreation Opportunities
for Richmond.
ORGANIZATIONS HELPING

II is thought likely that some Of the
many friends OF recreation work In
the City Council will introduce q pre-
Aminary measure to bring the essen
iial features Of the Fairgrounds plan
into operation. just when this will
be presented and 10 what committee It
viii be referred is MT at present
known.
II the plans Of the different people
interested are worked out. the survey
will result In . definite extension OF
work in Richmond. greatly. II IL be-
neved. to the benefit OF the children
and young people OF the city.
The committee on recreati IN and
Fairgrounds, which last spring had
thorough recreation survey made Of
the city. has secured the cooperation
of many other interested bodies In
bringing the matter to the attention
Of the City CounciL
Organiaa lions Help.
During last week number OF let
tiers were sent out to the dinerent
organizations enlisting their cO-opera-
tion. After reciting the fact that the
committe on recreation and Fairgrounds
seeks not TO d. away with any work
already done. but to extend the system
now In vogue until u reaches. more
children and older children. the letter
asks these different organizations te
appoint . committee to urge their in.
dorsement Of the plan f3r extension ON
the City Council
The names Of these committees from
the different organizations are to be
placed on fle with the secretary OF
the committee on recreation and play
grounds. Julien H. HUI. OF the .sati onal
State and City Bank. and Will be
called upon to express their opinion
OF the plan TO the members OF the
City Council when the matter Is pre-
scented 70 them.
In describing the plans for extension
OF recreation work the letter says.
Last spring the committee on re.
creation and Fairgrounds WAS formed
to cooperate with all interested citf-
gems in studying and developing the
recreation life OF the city. A fund was
raised and part Of II spent In making
q comprehensive survey Of the recrea-
ton situation Of Richmond ~ an ex-
pert. A clipping summarizing the sur
yey is inclosed
Pstent Faets.
Outstanding facts emphasized by
this report are:
II. Richmond has congestion of pop
uIation conditions equal to cities two
and three times Its size. This results in
less than one-ienth OF the nonstreet
space being free for play.
... Three-quarters 3f the Richmond
school buildings have less outdoor
play space per child than the minimum
set By the School Board OF London.
Eng. for that consested metropolis.
- After school hourS 10 per cent
of the children in Richmond are on
the streets: s. per cent are doing moth
ing. u per cent working. "a per cent
playing.
II. Young people between 6fteen and
twenty-five years Of age Furnish 90
per cent Of the attendance IT Richn ond
theatres and moving picture shows.
This recreation must be kept whole
)me.
rs. Each week in warm weather at
least $1,000 people are str oiiing on;
Broad Street for pleasure.
&c. The experts report says: An
adequate recreation system has to con-
slider the recreation Of over .s.eoo chill
dren and young people in Richmond,
either to furnish the recreati IN directly
or to supplement. guard and assist the
supply OF recreation By private or.
commercial agencieeL
Many COalA Ne Reached.
The present summer Fairgrounds mi
Ricmond reach about 500 children. sa
per cent Of whom are under eleven
years OF age. The committee on recre-
ati IN and Fairgrounds seeks the CO
operation OF all interested in extend
ing the recreation system of the city