The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-21

-, tres; Co encouragement TO all pr1Vate
| institutions furnishing wholesome re-
| creation.
Facilities and SupervisiOn.
l. In the school plant is outdoor play
space ranging from two to 800 square
feet for each child enrolled In the diff
ferent schools. with most schools hav-
ing under thirty square feet per child,
the minimum set by the London School
Board. One hundred and fifty feet
per child is necessary for active games,
even when large space games such as
baseball are omitted. Besides the fine
auditorium and the gymnasium In tie
high school. there are in school build
ings at date. seven auditoriums with
seating capacity ranging from $50 to
900. AS many moro have auditOriums
made by combining regular school
rooms. this type OF assembly room
holding from 100 to goo persons. Tie
auditoriu.ns all have fixed seats pre-
venting their widest use for recrea-
ton purposes. The right arrange
ment and location Of new school build
ings will increase their value for re-
creation purposes from IS per cent
to so per cent. II any, additional cost.
q On account Of historical associa-
tons or grading conditions only three
OF the public parks OF squares are
available for wide recreation use. A
great asset for immediate use is found
in the fact that the city controls from
IL Der cent to 2: per cent Of the total
space In congested districts In the form
Of not greatly used streets.
Nay Get lIeaAera
g. In addition to supervision Of sum-
mer school Fairgrounds. the city pos
~ Hv,Pf Aar-
ship in supervisors Of physical train
ing in the public schools who are
equipped for recreation work a. well
as physical trainins.
4. The city already possesses some
facilities and supervisory force. In
building the future development on
what 1t already possesses. the chief
needs are Cd the extension OF trained
supervision to all Of its playground
work; (2) the securing Of adequate
play space around the school buildings
for children under ten years OF age.
and sufficient playfields In various
parts of the city for older children and
young people: (3) the wider use OF the
present school buildings for winter
recreation and the provision in new
school buildings OF such convertible
open space rooms that the develop
ment Of indoor recreational activities
in these buildings after school hours
is possible.
Devesspasg % A6eNsase sysse0.
l. An s6equate recreation system
considers the supplanting Of home re-
creation. the overnight OF commercial
recreation TO ensure is good quality
co-operaticn with private recreation
the use Of present public facilities FOR
recreation 60 the limit OF their capac-
Itv and provision for tie future as
well as the present population OF tn"
city. An adequate secreatscn syssesa
in Richmond has TO consider the p-o-
vision for q large part OF the rec:ea-
tional life Of about $1,000 children and
Young people. q number considerably
larger than the total school enrol
ment. The scscci system has TASK
Of tremendous Importance wh'ch
al q be aided % 0very way. u point
Of n nbers reached. hours Influenced
and eject on character the task %
an adequate recreation system n Rich
sncnd u not less difficult
2 An saequase system IN Etchmonf
would Include supervised school play
grounds large enough 60 take care OF
ali children under ten years Of age.
one supervised large piayerouad fer
older childrsa and young ppp'e 81 the
whit. population IN each Of the eeur
wards Of the division Of 1914. one sweh
larger playgr0esA Tor the cesered
populasiom In Lee we'd esd tls ssss-
eyp pars Of ye2essca ward ~ eee
svcA Sssgsr OsaygFoval fse - weees