South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-15
EXPERT TELLS HOW
CITY CAN HELP THE
CHILDREN PLAY
Francis r. North, Field Secre-
tary of American Recreation
Association, Assists Local
Committee.

At the request Of the playground
and recreation committee recently ap-
pointed by Mayor Keller. Francis X.
North. field secretary Of the Play
ground and Recreation association Of
America. is in the city and viii assist
the local committee in its work Of out
lining a course OF educational play
and recreation for South Bend school
children. 4 recreation system which
Will embrace conditions which viii
provide for the best forms OF play and
recreation, is the plan of the commit
tee and the assistance of Mr.. North in
this direction is "a favor for which the
committee has expressed its gratitude.
Need OF Supervised Play.
Mr.. North viii be in the city for two
OF three weeks and while here Will
stop at the Y. NJ. g. a. where he viii
interview anyone interested IN the
project He has prepared an abstract
which is given here:
That American cities recognize the
need Of proper provision for recrea-
ton at organized centers such as
parks, playfields. school yard play
grounds, and indoors, is evident from
the fact that more than six hundred
maintain play and recreation centers.
Many cities have for number Of
years had we'll developed recreation
systems with their Fairgrounds super
vised by trained directors. Organiza-
ton Of grounds under competent
leadership IS the secret of efficiency
in making them real centers Of whole
some activity The Fairgrounds Of
such cities as Chicago, Rochester,
Pittsburgh. Los Angeles. Boston and
others have long been objects Of local
city pride.
But communities Of every size have
found it equally necessary TO maintain
right play conditions. The demand
has become insistent because of the
undoubted benefits that have accrued
from play centers operated in such
places Youngstown, Columbus and
Grand Rapids are examples of nearby
cities with a number Of neighbOrhOOd
and district Fairgrounds and indoor
.centers welded into an efficient recrea-
ton system. In Dayton the play
grounds and the children's gardens
are under the same management An
ment is seen in such states as New
Jersey and Massachusetts.
In the latter all of the forty cities
and towns Of over ten thousand in
habitants maintain organized play
grounds and they exist in more than
thirty smaller towns besides.
The reason for this country wide
by our people of the Importance Of the
right use Of leisure 10y citizens of all
ages, and more particularly the sig
nificance of the play time of children
and youth. For any boy or girl good
use of the hours out Of school con-
stitutes an educational opportunity. !
Here is the chance for initiative, in !
the favored play and work of these |
leisure hours where the child is in his |
real world OF conduct. But under |
hard cOnditiOns-no Fairgrounds but !
the street. or no wholesome leader
sh.p-gOOd instincts are too often (
atrophied through disuse. In certain /
districts law breaking is the result Of
the PLAY instinct getting its expression /
in the wrong way. Growing boys and |
girls need plenty of fresh air and eX-
ercise. Active and virile boys and /
young men, healthy and vigorous girls
AM young women, with fair outlook /
upon life thrive in the city that holds [
for them its natural resources and by
organized methods stimulates whole /
some TeCreauOns, normal home and /
neighborhOOd social pleasures.
Many Have Year Round System.
The movement for the use of school !
houses. field houses or other buildings
"a social and recreation Centers has
been progressing along with the play
ground movement. The methods es- |
sential in both have led park and |
and school authorities and interested /
parties Of citizens in our cities to make /
sure of efficient and permanent re-
suits by having created a year round !
system under a recreation superin- |
tendent. More than eighty cities have |
secured added efficiency by this means. !
The recent report OF the Playground |
and Recreation association of Amer !
lea makes the following statement: I
About 1,523.930 men, women and /
children in America now live i'm cities |
which year ago did not have a year /
round playground and recreation sys- |
TEN but which have within the year /
secured one
The following cities have had the |
assistance or the field secretaries Of |
the association IN establishing recre- |
alton systems during the last twelve |
months:
Tampa, Fla. birmingham. Ala |
Red Bank, y. J., Wheeling, w Va, |
Dayton. O.. Montreal. Canada. Scran- |
ton, Pa. Lynchburg, Va, Providence, /
3. l., Kansas City, Mo, Sioux City, Ia. /
Ishpemiug, Mich. Youkers y. Y. In |
dianapolis and Rochester, y. " have /
had their assistance in TRYING 10 make /.
their systems more effective. Twenty /
other cities are IN the midst of move /
mcnts which seem likely 10 bring sim I
liar results. Fourteen Of these are /
smaller than South Bend. Thirty /
five cities have arranged for the Ma /
tioual association 10 assist them i'm the .
near future.
Last winter Nr. North made the /
recreation survey for the city OF In /
dianapoHs and has more recently been 4
engaged in work in Waltham Mass /
and Nonkers y. Y
The local committee is composed Of /
city judge III. ID. Warner. chairman. /
Louis Hamm ersCh midt. Louise StUde- |
baker, Ann Rushane Veva Harrison. /
Alma Ware Horace Greene. Rev
John KubaCki. T. j. Montgomery Mrs