The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-13
Few Capable Of Filling Place In
Large City Like Detroit.
6ays r. C. Haynes
EXPERT DISCUSSES
PROBLEMS OF PLAN
Says Ideal System Il Where the
Forms OF Recreation Are
~, Merely Suggested


men capable of heading . recreation
system in . city q large AZ Detroit,
said Rowland &. Haynes. field secre-
tary Of the Playground and Rscrea'
ton association Of America. discuss-
Ing the Detroit situation for The
Times.
Mr.. Haynes made the recreation
survey for q committee Of the Board
Of Commerce, the results Of which
have recently been published. Be-
cause Of his work.. the committee
recommended the creation OF q play.
ground commission, to cooperate with
the park. school and police depart
ments OF the city In an endeavor to
provide healthful. safe apusements
for the children of Detroit who have
little chance 40 play because OF con.
gested housing conditions and many
other handicaps.
man OF deceptive appearance 10
Mr.. Haynes. He looks very young.
1t nrst glance. but o closer study
would indicate that he II probably
In the late thirties. His voice Is quiet
and his eyes are tired; but when he
gets into his subject he flashes q
quick smile that shows y keen sense
OF humor, and his eyes have mo-
mentary dance and flicker OF merri-
ment, His conversation IL that Of q
man so familiar with the presentation
OF his thoughts that he takes the
shortest. simplest means of telling
them. II shows well-organized
mind; and one IL not surprised to
learn that Mr.. Haynes has taught
Psychology In the University of Min
nesota. and that he introduced a
course In character-study there that
was 90 popular that they want him
70 return. But Mr. Haynes found in
settlement work In the lower east
side OF New York, and later In the
playground problem. the employment
which gives him the greatest salts.
faction. Continuing to speak Of play
ground supervision. he said:
ITS great mistake to plan re-
creation system and then try to At
the children to It. Such course
never succeeds. 7 have In mind a
klty where the recreation heads made
> very careful plan along such lines.
At certain hour of the day. there
was to be marching: at another hour,
Indoor baseball. Now marching ap-
pcAls to the youngster. but not to. tina
pideF boy The result was that the
blder ones stayed away during, the
marching hour--staysd In the streets.
where they were subject to all the evil
Influences which II 10 the object OF
The playground movement to take
them from: but they hocked In duriLg
The hour OF indoor baseball.
~ typical example OF q successful
recreation system 10 fonnd In Rich.
mond. w. A minister named Gillett
became interested in the playground
movement there. He made II his
business to find out what the children
wanted. and to supply them with It..
For instance, he discovered that many
II them liked to play house but had
ho facilities for such play. SO he
urrounded his playground with boxes
Ind packing cases, without word to
he children % to what they were for;
Ind It didn't take the children more
han 4 few minutes TO discover that
here were the houses which they
Needed. Some houses were demol-
shed to make room for q playground.
Zen were employed to MI In the cell
ars, but Mr.. 0illett stopped them.
leave tho holes he said: and now
hat playground IL used for piracy
Expeditions and all sorts Of imagina-
i've plays, devised by the children
heuoelves. He saw that the boys
Ind girls tried to improvlse teeters;
Ind he had q sort of curved-bottom
boat constructed. which would hold
number Of children and would rock
osily under their weight. He has
zen tremendously successful. This
the sort Of supervision that Ii need
done that wilt suggest play to the
hildren, giving them freedom to I'm
rovise according to their needs and
mAeinations.
SITS Z mistake to suppose that all
children want the same kind Of
musement. In New York. for ex-
nipple, We found that the Jewish boys
6anted debating clubs; but do you
Impose the German and irish chill
rem would stand for them? They
rant athletic amusements, and Will
ave nothing to do with debates.
''Detroit's recreation problem 10 very
Brious, due largely to the vast growth
( the city IN recent years. After
BY speech to the Board Of Commerce,
man came to me and said: TITS
pity that we weren't warned Of this
robiem % years ago, when property
re cheap, 20 that we could have
hads proper provision replied: II
10 growth continues. a. II undoubt.
dly will, what will the situation be
years hepcs! What are yoq going
b DO about Il noWr } Nj.
II was pleased to see. that my De-
Hoit obsefvktionS regarding idleness
children back up observations
hIen IN other cities. II is/a greaf
nrprise 10 mopC~ people that over 80
p cent Of the children supposedly at
~ are idle-yet that II the case
orovor studies have been made.
Zen they haven't Homework and
Wing 70 do, there q little play for .
~ Apparently about the only thing
70 con 70 3 20 take Z walk.
The Board Of Commerce commit.
~ hao oucceeded In INTRODUCING q
Eoor provision for recroofiou de-
nont; but even n the charter
~ ne movement will continue. for
~ eoopletee u prepared with Z
o1ooe psUU1am that e will Try to
~ ooe regardless OF the charters
Hle moving picture house situa-
- Doft ~ q IN. The wideawake
1890 1so rsalise that only 80 per
- 0e9 1GesooaGo comes hon
01vos - ~ 60 G01eo Sooly -