The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-11
FAIRGROUNDS MOVEMENT ONE
OF GREATEST FOR HUMANITY
~ ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT ~
AMERICA TO-DAY, SETTLE
SAYS
FIELD seeretsry Answers Questions
Neiatlse 70 inauguration of
Campaign Tonight.

"A number OF Wheeling people
nave asked me In the last week 20
tell them something OF the scope OF
the Playground and Recreation move
ment. Il IL In operation In many
eifiesF How n IL supportedY And
what are various cities spending on
me Playground and Recreation De-
psrtmentsl they ask" said T. s. Set
ue 70 an intelligencer reporter yes
These questions are very pert
nent Just now In view OF the fact
mat "wednesday evening the Wheel
Ing Playground Association will
launch campaign to raise $4,000
70 nnance this movement the coming
year. ] shall attempt TO answer these
qeestlons briefly through the columns
OF your paper.
In years. the Playground and Re-
creation movement II comparatively
young. but In importance IL is one OF
the greatest movements for the wei
rare OF humanity in America today
In the last twelve years the cities
or america have spent over slOO.-
100000 In public recreation and play
grounds. Chicago has led ali other
cities. IL voted a bond issue OF SIS
100000 at one time with the proceeds
of which II purchased city blocks IN
nearly every district OF the city. tore
uown me houses that were upon
these blocks and turned the spaces
into Playground and Recreation cen
tiers. Nor are these centers used
only by the small children; but by
young men and women and the faith
ers and mothers as we'll. They furn-
ish recreation for the entire COM
munity. To date Chicago has spent
nearly $l5.O0O.OOo for this worthy
purpose.
The annual report OF the Play
ground and Recreation Association OF
America shows that during the year
1913. 642 cities OF the United States
operated public playground and re-
creation centers. In the majority OF
these cities the Playground and Re-
creation Department Is a branch OF
the CITY Government. as permanent,
ana considered as necessary a de-
partment, as the police. health, engt-
neering, courts OF justice depart
Inents. indeed these cities. have
learned from experience that every
dollar appropriated for public recre-
alton lessons the number OF dollars
Necessary for the operation of the
police. health and Juvenile Court de-
partments. These cities do not con-
s.der the Department of Recreation
and added burden. AS Mayor Newton
Paker. OF Cleveland. expresses Il:
lioney spent on Fairgrounds and
recreation Is really not an increased
EXPENSE. II Is only diversion OF the
public funds from corrective meas
ures to preventive measures
Many cities Interested.
Seventy-two cities for the first time
in 1918 started playground and recre-
auon systems, thus bringing health
ana happiness TO their people.
cities are rapidly learning that an
enective recreation system is not one
mat Is operated only during the sum-
mer months, but throughout the en-
tire year Etghty-three cities reported
such year-round recreation systems
with superintendent Of recreation in
charge, who occupies a position in re-
gard 10 The recreation OF the people
that Is analogous to the position OF
superintendent OF schools regarding
the education Of the people.
The fact that 80 per cent OF all
onences against society are commit |
ted In the leisure time hours between
y. m. and IL y. m. has prompted
many communities to open recreation
centers after industrial workers had
been released from their days toll:
l52 cities reported 629 centers OF
various kinds opened in the evenings
Inc wider use o. the school plant
Is everywhere In evidence. One humid
red and thirty-four cities reported
mat their school houses were used
as evening recreation centers.
The amount spent for Fairgrounds
ana recreation in the cities OF America
last year was SS.05S. 600, an Increase
OF 81 100000 over 1912
chicago led all cities in the years
eeHpenlltures, It's total being S1.9f2 600. |
New York spent 1907 900, Boston s267 |
100. Philadelphia S131 900. Pittsburg
SiO1OOO. Baltimore, Washington
Cleveland, Milwaukee. Seattle and San
francisco make liberal provisions FOR |
this department
Wheeling is much smaller than anv
OF the above mentioned places. Last /
summer the Wheeling Playground as. |
sociation operated three Fairgrounds /
az cost OF about S2,20O.06, $500 90 OF /
ton. From all / can learn these biav.
grounds We're well conducted and the /
result OF the work was very satisfac- |
tory II reflected credit upon the I
SUPERVISORS In charge and the public |
state d City Pop. 1910 Total