The Greeley tribune., 1912-11-21
SOCIAL CENTER ADVOCATED
(Coutinued from page one)

perts to supervise the play, ana eA
maintained l.543 Fairgrounds. EN-
pended nearly three million dollars
altogether on the work. To cite
only one case of q moderate-sized
city. Oakland, California. spent up
on it's Fairgrounds two years ago
$4,000; one year ago. $4,000;
this year it is spending $4,000. II
has already twelve public play
grounds, most of which are equip
ped with apparatus and nine OF
which are in charge OF competent
supervisors--a man and woman
for each playground.
The results OF such work have
been very gratifying. Shortly al
ter the South Park system OF play
grounds was established in Chicago,
very material decrease In juven-
lie delinquency was reported for the
ad jacent parts OF the city. though
in the parts more remote from play
grounds there was an increase. Sim
liar facts have been reported from
other cities. The function OF the
playground is not, therefore mere
ly to afford opportunity for physic-
al training; it also exerts a benign
social and moral influence upon
those who come within its reach.
The development OF these kinds
of work should make US pause be
fore we adopt ready-made solution
of Greeley's problem. Cities in
Massac husetts, where the recrea-
ton work Is particularly we'll or
ganized, have found it wise before
inaugurating public policy of this
kind to appoint recreation com
mission to study the needs of the
city. In some cases, moreover
they have found it advisable to work
out a plan through the guidance
of a supervisor of recreation whose
whole time, and thought, and en-
ergy are given to the working out
OF recreation program for the en-
tire community" Might We not
profit by their example? The first
thing We need is a recreation COM
mission composed of public-spirited
citizens to study the needs of Gree
ley, to find out what other cities are
doing along the same lines, and to
report upon what seems to be the
best scheme for our purposes.
Doubtless it is yet too early to
speculate with any degree of GER
tainty as to what such scheme
should be. Perhaps it may prove to
be the Y. NJ. c. A. If so, all should
be convinced of this fact and be
ready to push it. But possibly 1t
may not be out of place at this time
to suggest something in the nature
of an alternative plan. merely to
illustrate that there are other pos
sibilities. We might. for example,
build well-eQuipped municipal
gymnasium with two departments
one for boys and bne for girls. This
might be used a part of the day by
the public school children and be
open during the remainder Of the
day and evenings for classes OF
adults. The same building Nigh
also very we'll provide for some 9th
er popular forms of recreation such |
as bowling alleys. game rooms, etc. |
The work of such an institution
should be carried on under the di-
rection OF two physical training ex-
perts--a man and woman. Dur
ing the summer months, when the
schools are not In session, they
should take charge of the municipal
Fairgrounds which ought to be de-
veloped in Greeley. The whole
scheme Of recreation might also in
clude other possibilities easily
within our reach, such as the
swimming pool and skating pond at
Glenmere Park, the use of school
buildings il necessary for public
meetings. entertainments and Tor
some kinds OF vocational training
for those beyond school age
The administration OF such al
scheme for a city is a matter OF
prime importance. Here again the
experience of other cities which are
doing similar work should be of
value to US. The consensus OF
opinion at present among recreation
experts seems to be that such work
should be placed under the juris-
diction OF permanent recreation
commission, perhaps appointed by
the city council and containing rep
resentatives from allied organiza-
tions as the school board In this
way, there would be special or
ganization whose duty is to look af-
ter this specific line Of work with
out being encumbered with other
tasks. The administration OF such
system can thus be as efficient as
that of the public schools or any
other portion OF city work.
| Some such scheme at least ia a
/ possibility worth considering. IL
! would have some advantages com
pared with the Y. NJ. C. A. II
would minister to larger number
OF people. including the school chill
dren tor whom some provision
should be made. 1t would be an
institution for all the people and in
Wnich all might feel a measure of
civic pride. 1t would put Greeley
In the front among cities of it's ci.a.
Tor facilities OF this kind and from
purely business standpoint would
probably prove to be good invest
nient as 1t would attract people to
'reeiey as residence city. II
would probably also prove much
less expensive both to inaugurate
ana TO conduct than Y. NJ. c. A II