South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-05
Good VIII Week
Why 1t Needed
F. B. Barnes Discusses the
Growth of the Playground
Movement.

ground movement began some seven
or eight years ago through discus
sion of this subject in a department
Of the Progress club and by articles
written, read and discussed before the
Sociology club.
The first playground apparatus was
installed at the COquillard school some
seven years ago. Following this the
park board equipped several OF the
parks with a fair amount of play
ground apparatus. Laurel school
Colfax school and Muessel school had
some homemade apparatus Installed
some four years ago. Three years
ago the Sociology club promoted the
first supervised play-ever conducted in
South Bend. This was on a plot of
ground on w. Washington av. known
as Bakers field. c. A. Metzler, now
director and physical trainer at the
high school, was the first paid play
ground instructor in South Bend. The
culminative effects OF these first at
tempts at supervised play for the
children resulted in the appointing of
playground committee.
In 1914 the playground committee
called TO South Bend one of the field
secretaries of the Playground and
Recreation Association Of America
and he made, with the assistance of
voluntary workers, a recreation survey
which resulted in Mayor Fred Keller,
in compliance with an act of the state
legislature Of 1913, appointing a mu-
nicipal reacreation committee. This
committee is as follows: l.. NJ. Ham
merschmidt, chairman; Mrs. Homer
Miller. secretary and treasurer; Will
liam Glenn; ". G.. Manning; Mrs Glenn
Smogor; Richard Elbel and Judge
Herbert j Warner The first act of
n COLL n Gnnf N
Bend F. 3. Barnes TO become director
Of municipal recreation.
The scope of the work of the mu-
nicipal recreation committee is as
broad as what happens in the leisure
or unoccupied time of the citizens of
South Bend and includes many depart
ments which have for their object
the promotion as a part of the city's
plan Of recreation.
The Playground association is now
a department of municipal recreation
and Fairgrounds are but one of the
many activities which the committee
is promoting as a part Of the city's
plan of recreation.
In June. 1915, there was inaugurated
the first playground system in South
Bend and five Fairgrounds were equip
ped and supervised by seven play
ground directors. These five play
grounds were open during the sum-
mer term for 10 weeks and the total
attendance was a trifie over 100000.
Since the first of September two play
grounds have been conducted under
supervision. One Of these is lighted
by electric lights for night work and
is attracting a large number OF the
working people in that particular
neighborhood. The attendance at
these two Fairgrounds from Sept
g. Vt n
600. One of the features of the sum-
mer fork was the organized competi-
tive play, sc teams enrolling more
than 1000 different players were or
ganized into leagues, playing for the
inter- playground and city champion
ships
The effect of the playground work
upon the lives of the young people
cannot be measured by facts and fig
ures. The police records show a
marked decrease in the number of
arrests for petty violations. The bus
mess men and the fathers and mothers
report the leSSening of disturbances
in each neighbOrhoOd and generally a
wholesome influence upon the chill
dren. The engaging in interplay
ground competition has had a ten
dency TO obliterate the sectional lines
and the mingling of children of diff
AtItHN ndlAOudllleS mas netpeu 10
break down race barriers, The COM
petition between Fairgrounds for the
supremacy in athletics has tended to
stimulate local pride and has been
factor in getting the people of each
community together
There were held six play festivals.
one st each of the Fairgrounds, then
final combined festival where the
best from each playground were
brought together for one big festival.
More than 8 600 people witnessed this
festival and about 1000 children took
part.
The publicity given to the play
ground movement through the work
of the Good Will week campaign and
the funds coming from the generous
citizens who are interested in this
work, have made il possible to estab- !
lish on permanent basis, South |
Bends playground system.
There are districts in the city which |
are In sore need of properly. equipped
supervised Fairgrounds and are ask |
ing for the extension of this work |
The work can only be extended as ra-
pidly as funds are available. Every
dollar received viii help 10 maintain !
this work and will bring a new world
or sunshine and happiness into the
lives OF many more of South Bends 4
future citizens.