The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-17
RICHMOND PLANS
BIG CONVENTION
-s%s----l---- ~.
aEcaEAraos coNGaEss WILL MEET
N TINS CRY IN MONTH
or APRIL
HAVE TWO SECTIONS
TWO SECTIONS
work rs SO EXTENSIVE THAT 1T
rs NECESSARY TO DIVIDE
AND HOLD TWO sEs-
sIUNs At ONCE.

=
Preparations are already under
way for the recreation congress to be
held Id Richmond some time In April.
under the auspices OF the Playground
and Recreation Association of Amer
lea.
The widespread interest in this
playground and recreation movement
has already been summarized in this
paper NO movement for social bet
terment has spread more rapidly
than this effort to bring happiness
and increased efffciency to men, wo-
men, and rhifdfen through the utiiiza-
ton Of their leisure hours. It's growth
and rapid Development have been al
most phenomenal. Starting with un-
organized. individual efforts to pro-
vide wholesome play for little chill
dren, it has reached out to include
the entire community. and has come
In many cities to be one of the func-
tions of the municipalities. During
1912, there were zS5 cities that report
ed regularly supervised playground
and recreation centers to the number
OF 1884 were maintained. In addition
to these there we're forty-nine cities
carrying on social centers in their
schools.
OOnIfeS9 IN Two SECTIONS
Last June this recreation congress
was held in Cleveland, Ohio. So large
number OF interests had to be con-
sidered, and 10 many topics covered,
that there were two sections of the
congress, running simultaneously. one
on recreation In cities and towns and
another on rural recreation. The
development Of the last few months
has more than kept pace with that
of the previous years so that this two
section arrangement will also have to
be used In Richmond
Some OF tbs topics which were COW
cred in the meeting last year in
Guided matters of recreation and
legislation: the use of schools and
parks for recreation purposes; the
relation OF recreation TO the assimila-
ton of immigrants; besides questions
of equipment and activities.
Foreign Representatives Coming.
To this congress- will gather ex-
perts and playground workers from
all over the country. and there will
also be representatives from foreign
lands There will also be those who
are leading and backing the move
| ment. although not actually partici-
pating in the management of 1t, rep
resentatives Of chambers of commerce
and OF city governments. members OF
State legislatures, leaders from wo-
mems clubs and civic organizations
| of all kinds.
| 1t has been estimated that between
| $4,000 and 10000 people throughout
! the country are connected with the
recreation movement; some of them
recreation leaders, and many more Of
| them serving on boards OF directors
city council committees and the like
| 1t is the purpose to advertise thii
recreation congress, not only gen
orally. but also specially to reach the
attention OF these 10000 people.
Opportune for Richmond.
This congress has not only the ad
vantage of other congresses of ad'
vertising Ri &c mo n d favorablJ
throughout the country, but 1t comes
at am especially appropriate time il
the history of the city. Owing to tht
work OF the large number of organi.
| cations which have been co operating
with the Richmond committee or
recreation and Fairgrounds, the cit,
| is planning to enter upon new era
of recreation development. 1t /!
planning to increase materially iti
playground and recreation work, and
| to MACE ii on sound basis by tht
employment of a recreation superin
tendent who shall give his entire
| time, with assistants, to, building uT
the public recreation system of tht
city. @@
BY the coming of this congress a
this time, 1t viii be poasible for tht
recreation superintendent and his as
sistants to learn as much, from thu
gathered group OF recreation experts
and workers, as they would iearf
from several weekss Of travel and
correspondence on the dennite prob
lens Of playground administration.
I The meetings will also serve, no
only to educate the actual play
ground workers but to inApire thos'
already interested in the work in Thu
city with the possibilities Of service
and development In the work.
To Share Expense.
In order to secure this congress tn
Richmond committees on recreation
and Fairgrounds together with rep
reseritatives of the chamber OF com
merre. have pledged that Richmond
will furnish, either BY private SUB
scription or otherwise. It's share o
the convention expenses: namely
$4,000. This is not FOR the supper
Of the general work Of the play
ground and Recreation Association Q
America, but IL to be spent entirel.
an the congress to be held here II
i Richmond, 1t will be used for speak
/ ers, for advertising the congress. 10
the tremendous volume OF correspon
! fierce iii egnnprsts with e lse.s. meet
I ings and similar purposes. This sun
liz not the total amount 10 By spen
on the congress; the Playground ant
Recreation Association OF Americ'
/ will contribute an addition sum t
the expenses.
! Developments to date point to I
very successful meeting, not onl,
i from the standuoirnf OF the recreation
/ movement throughout the country
4 but also from the standpoint OF hell
i ing the recreation work In the cit!