The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-09
All-YEAR
RECREATION WORK
Playground System Before Coun-
Gil Not Confined to Summer
Months.

The Fairgrounds Committee makes
the following statement:
Some people seem TO have the inn
preston that the plan for extension of
playground work in Richmond has al
ready passed the City Council Such
is not the case The plan incorsed
b-- more than forty organizations has
received the recommendation of the
Grounds and buildings Committee OF
the City Council Before it can be
come effective. however. the appro-
pr1ation must be recommended by the
Finance Committee This has not set
been done.
The extension Of the playground
work proposed plans not only 10 reacn
more children, but TO reach them more
effectively. and for the entire year. IN
stead of merely in the summer months.
as in the past II is for this res-
son that those urging the plan feel
that II will do from six TO eight
times as much as has been done hlth-
erto on an expenditure OF three times
the $500 which wa s voted last year
There are two ways In which the
$500 which is beinS asked for for
supervision. leadership. caretaking and
equipment can be spent. II may be
spent all during the summer months
or IL may be spent on a smaller num-
Der Of grounds and indoor places OF
use during the entire twelve months
Of the year Those who have studied
the matter most carefully feel that
there is a distinct advantage in e1-
tending the work over the entire year
instead of doing 1t only in the sum
rner months
Play All the Year.
In the first place. this method fits
in with child nature. and the work
is for the benefit OF children and young
people Children do not stop playing
curing the nine months OF the school
year as well as during the three
months Of the summer vacation
Especially is this true in city like
Richmond with its rare climate con-
ditions Here II is possible for chill
dren to be out of doors for most of
their play for eight months of the
year, and frequently much longer To
use the Fairgrounds only during the
summer months not only fails to take
account of child nature. but also fails
to use the climatic conditions which
are a big asset in the city OF Rich
mond.
In the sesond place, continuous work
throughout the year is needed in or
der that the play grounds and recrea-
tion centres may do the most Tor the
character development Of the children
and young people. Great emphasis is
rightly placed on the value Of proper
" directed recreation work In the de-
velopmcnt of strong and sturdy char
acter. This work supplements the
work Of the schools and makes posi-
bic the development Of character which
shall use the school training which
the city is giving, as well as prevent
ing Juvenile delinquency. Character is
not formed just during the thpee sum
rner months. For real character build
ing continuous work Is necessary. ana
b. running the playgrouDds and re-
creation centres all the year round, II
Is possible to do continuous work In
character building
In the third place. the running OF
the play spaces all the year round is
most economical: IL uses the plant ana
equipment all the time. Few business
men would think Of building factories
to be used only three months In the
year. when II was possible to use the
factories twelve months Hence. IL Is
much more economical 70 run small
er number Of Fairgrounds and recres-
ton centres all the year round than q
Larger number for q brief three months