Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-14
PARKS NEED MORE MONEY
DR.. Stimson, Playground Expert, So
Advises After Examination.
EXPERT HELP IS NEEDED
Unless Trees and Shrubbery Are
Looked After by Graduate For
esters Physical Success il
Not Assured.
More money"

More money"
THIS is the need of the Omaha park
system says DR.. Cyrus F. Stimson, field
secretary Of the Playground and Recrea-
ton Association Of America, who has
been employed to investigate and report
plans and needs"
The most evident need aside from
large additions to funds for extension and
completion Of the park and boulevard
system as projected" says Or. Stimson,
lis need Of supervision by trained
workers of the recreation work of the
parks and bathing centers."
DR.. Stimson praises Park Commissioner
J. B. Hummel for the work he has done
on short funds" but continues:
Need Expert Forestera.
The standard park systems. large or
small recognize that the trees and
shrubs need the care of the expert in
forestry and Horticulture; the physical
care Of the parks requires also the ex-
pert to handle problems of drainage
grading, laying of walks and pavements;
and quite as certainly the planning and
care for the organization of recreation,
the supervision OF plays and games. in
stallation and care of apparatus and
supplies. cannot properly be left to park
foremen and matrons and caretakers not
trained for this work. To expect this
work to be done by unframed persons is
as absurd as to expect the janitor to
fulfill the function of teacher in our
schools.
Need More Fairgrounds.
Further DR.. stimson finds there is a
glazing lack of inside playfields and
neighborhood Fairgrounds. easily acces-
sible to the children and youth of the
city,"
The need exists and every year will
grow more insistent for conveniently ac-
cessible areas and facilities for recrea-
ton. Every year Omaha postpones pro-
vision for these facilities enormously
adds to the ultimate cost"
Speaking of the neighborhood play
ground. DR.. Stimson says:
THE neighborhood playground for
children OF both sexes under u years of
age in centers with a maximum radius
of one+half mile, and for larger play
fields for the older youth for such games
as baseball, foot ball, track athletics,
basket ball, volley ball, tennis and the
like, with swimming pools ultimately,
and facilities for ice skating in winter
on the flooded playfields, in centers with
a maximum radius OF a mile or mile
and a half, are the minimum require
ments in city planning based upon un-
questionable experience" IL,
~ Funds Are Imperative.
In conclusion Dr. Stimson declares:
without large additions to the budget
or the, issue Of bonds it will be possible
for Omaha to follow lines proved effica-
cious in other cities in very largely in
creasing the wholesome uses of priceless
leisure hours for not only it's children
but for all the people. since normal folk
require recreation. and under conditions
of city life only community action and
municipal policy can insure these rec
reation facilities at a minimum cost
This line of work cannot rsst upon pri-
vate groups, nor upon a, charity basis
1t is as much a necessity OF municipal
administration as a water system, a
sewer system or a fire department"