The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-21
Developing an Adequate system

tsvitiee In these buildings ditSi 7~'fN"A
hours Is possible
Developing an Adequate system
!. An adequate recreation SYSTEM
considers the experimenting Of n3me
recreation, the oversight OF CONNER
tiai recreation 10 ensure It's good
quality. cooperation with private re-
creation, the use of present papiic
facilities for recreation TO the -t'nIt OF
their capacity. and provision fof ne
future as well as the preset. poptila-
lion Of the city An adequate reerea-
ton system in Richmond has to con-
slider the provision for Il large part OF
the racreational life Of about 2b.Voe
children and young people q nnn9cI
considera bly lar~er than the totai
school enrolment The school system
has a task of tremendous Importance
which should be aided in every way
In point of numbers reached, hours
Influenced and effect on character Inc
task of an adequate recreation System
In Richmond Is not less diH-cult-
2. An adequate system for Rich
mend would include supervised scho VI
T Fairgrounds large enough to taxa
care of all children Under ten years
of age: one supervised larger pay
! ground for older children and young
of the four wards of the divisi III Of
1912. one such iarver playground for
the colorea population in Lee ward
and the eastern part cf Jefferson wall,
and one such larger playground for
the white population and possibly enc
J for the coiored population in the Man
chester part of Madison ward, az
many indoor recreation centers FOR
young people over fifteSn years or age
las larF4r Fairgrounds. To save ek-
/ pensa these recreation centers could
I be in school buildings.
/ g. The first Step is TO secure from
the new administrative board proper
recognition of recreation work. and
from the city council sufficient funds
! to procurse one model playground for
children and young people over ten
wears of age. with the introduction
/ If larger play spaces for older chill
tiren the school Fairgrounds would
continue under supervision but would
+ ne reserved for the Younger children.
1 4 study Of the density Of population
t and the distribution OF children III
Richmond points to the old Jefferson
ward (ines Of 1910 not 1922 includ-
! 44Yg the church Fiji dfstricf as the
place where there are the most ehll-
! Aren and the least play space at pres
emit.
T. The second step is to SECURE CO.
ordination Of all public recr tlon
work In the city under one head, q
supervisor of public recreation, whose
duty it would be to develop an AIDE
souate recreation system as 1t is the
duty OF the superintendent of schools
70 develop a proper school system
j IN tha ga~ of facilities the ssesssie
stem liz the DEVELOPMENT Of winter re-
creation through the wider use OF the
school plant.
8. Such an adequate system VII
take years TO develop. Meanwhile
puttine in supervised play on certain
slightly used streets reserved Tor pla,
mediate relief without immediate eesi
for sites. A put / library with proper
guidance 70 the reading OF children
ana younv people would add much tt
The wholesome recrea ton of the city.
6. The development of an adequate
recreation system is necessa in ordel
to save the investments the city hai
made in ether valuable departments
Richmond is rightly spending iarg
Sums on It's school system, but mucl
OF this VIII he wasted wherever tn
children outside or school, through
wrong play conditions, for habits o
character which make their schoc
training useless. Richmond is right
spending much IN the care and reforr
~ lis aekinuuents. but an aaeqnat
Y recreation system Is necessary to pre-
vent making OF iefinquents tfiroue
lthe lack of wholesome recreStion.