The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-09
BENNINGTON PLAYGROUND
Looking Toward All the Year Round
instruction

Looking Toward All the Year Round
instruction
To the Editor of the Banner: The
Playground and Recreation associa-
tion of America has one eye on us.
That is for what has already been
done in Bennington along lines of re-
notwithstanding to the report car
ried back to them by Miss Freeman,
the investigator who was here under
the auspices of the Board of Trade.
Its other eye is on a trained superyis-
or of recreation, whom it would like
to send us for a year That is for
what might yet be done along the
same lines. Having written this, or
words to the same effect, H. s. Bran
cher, secretary of the association,
goes on to say that they would like
to make Bennington a model and a
source of inspiration TO other com
munities of similar size.
IF in this or any other way" 1--WE
quote from his letter., I'VE can be Of
any help to you. in encouraging you
to start in Bennington recreation
work for the smaller. community
which shall possibly be an inspra-
ton to other communities in other
states, we shall be very glad II
seems to me that conditions in Ben.
nington are very unusual and that
there is opportunity for you 10 start
a work there which shall mean a
great deal to other communities OF
the same size throughout the coun.
try"
u Is inspiring TO ourselves TO know
that our town is one of the leaders
in Vermont and in fact among small
towns all over the United States. in
the worldwide movement for puDlic
recreation.
This movement began with the es
Enlistment OF children $ Fairgrounds
In 1911, 3G4 cities in the United
States supported Fairgrounds with an
investment OF some 100000. Nine
teen cities had bond issue OF S4,445.
600.
In Massachusetts. every town oil
over 10000 inhabitants was compelled
to have a public playground in 1911
and this year the legislature Is ex
pected to require il Of even smaller
+ places. Even South America is wax
ing up, anC the first playground ir
Rio de Janeiro is already a success
the movement being greatly aided by
/ Hon. William y. Bryan.
Shanghai, China. has two recreation
centers, and men and women from
/ Australia, Japan, Germany. England
as we'll as China. India and Africa. ar,
constantly inquirlng of IN how hes
to start the movement.
In Vermont Barre and Brattlehor,
share the playground honors Will
Bennington, but We have the onl,
one which has advanced 10 municipa
support In Bennington now in lin
with the National movement. we ar
ready 10 extend our work: 10 max
start in providing for the youn
people as we'll as the children. an
that all the year round instead of tw
months In the summer.
The total attendance on the pla,
ground last summer was 1884. an a,
erage attendance OF 13l. The tow
paid $500 toward playground equiI
ment and a supervisor who made IN
children happy for two months.
a twomonths worker for children ca
bring happiness to community 500
times, how many times would
twelve-months worker for childre
and young people bring happiness [
that same community? Happincs
leads TO right thinking and right li'
ing, and who can estimate the inev
table good to our town which woul
follow And all this for 5000 NOR
than the village granted last yea
, for recreation For II the village wi
appropriate $500. another $500 will h
added to It and $1,000 will make 20
, sihle that trained. all the year roun
worker which the national committe
has It's eye on for Us.
. Recreation.