The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-12
" HAT ORGANIZED
RECREATION HAS
ACCOM- l|SHt D
Why Civic League Asks For lis
Appropriation
A RE UMe OF IT'S WORK
Has Carried Out Numerous Projects
in the Interests Of Children and
Young People

To the Voters of Bennington
1t has been said that the important
question in regard to a tax rae is
not how high or low it is but What
is the city getting for it?" The $500
appropriated by the village las. year
for Public Recreation has been used
to such advantage that the Civic
league feels justified in asking for
its continuance. The total budget
OF the League last year was s163S.35.
The original $500 of the village was
doubled by private subscription and
approximately $500 was received
from enter ailments and exhibits
making a return of over 200 per cent
On the original investment.
The important thing of the year
has been the employment Of Sup
ervisor of Recreation during BIO h
winter and summer putting Ben
nington, VT, in the same c.ass with
such cities as Milwaukee. Kansas
City and Portland, 0~n The sum
mer Playground had the most sue
cessful year in its his .ory, with an
average daily attendance of 1853, an
increase OF As over thnt 80 the pre-
ceeding year and grand total of
5000. A tennis court was added to
the permanent equipment and a
scien .ifically graded base ball dia-
mond was donated by our men en-
thusiasts aroused by DR.. c. w. Bart
lett and d. Fl. Winslow
Volley ball, tennis and other or
ganized games were taught and 30
Regu ars' played to a finish Boys
Base Ball League. The grounds
were open both afternoons and even
ings although The lack of lights made
an early closing hour necessary. By
the addition of lights and dancing
platform for evening work, the eff
cheney of he summer work could be
doubled. A wading pool for the chill
dren would also prove popular ad-
diticn.
The Recreation Supervisor has
specialized during he winter
months on physical training and folk
dancing with the girls OF all our
schools and dramatics with the chill
dren as whole. At present she is
developing the idea OF evening rec
reation for our young peop'e 259'
girls have met weekly in the Folk
dancing classes and rs have partici-
pa ed in dramatics.
The regular Recreation work mas
been continue ly interspersed not
only with small parties and picnics
but with important special events.
An exhibition of Folkdanclng last
March was participated in by
81 children and interested an
audience of 1850. In May the chill
dren of the village were given an OPP
portunity to hear Cora Mel Patten,
President Of the Junior Dramatic
League of America read "The Blue.
bird" and in October they heard
Seumas McManus, he world famous
storyteller. Two hundred and fifty
girls in an athletic meet and so
babies entered in a Health con est
set people to thinking of the relative
values of health and beauty.
Two base ball games played by our
business and professional men each
record attendances for even Benning
ton and generated a new enthusiasm
for playing instead of merely watch
ing the game. In conjunction with
the Board of Trade and Y. NJ c. a.
a Community skating rink was built
though the weather clerk prevented
its use for a larger community af-
fair.
a Community Christmas Tree and |
Pageant of Patriots on washingtons |
Birthday have given us all new ideas /
abou. the celebration OF our National /
holidays. The summer closed with |
free automobile ride for $50 chill I
dren and the last OF the winters F,
snow was used for a sleigh ride en-
joyed by a 1000 children.
The BY products of these activities /
have been OF value commercially also |
Every business man knows it pays I,
TO advertise and here the League has (
been real col. eague OF the Board Of i
Trade. The following cities aud or
carnations have sent TO Bennington
for Information and literature during
the past year: Gardiner. Ne. Mont
pelier, ". Wallingford. Conn, Ma
lone. y. Y, Canandaigua. n. Y. Erie.
Penn, Hanover. ". II. Redhank. \.