South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-19
Nj ayor K eller IS
Message to Council
on Recreation

To the Honorable Common Council
OF the City of South Bend, Ind.
Before being elected 10 the office
Of mayor OF this city I noticed the
'oadequacy of Fairgrounds In certain
parts OF the city. 1t was apparent
20 me that the children in the south
west part OF the city did not have
an equal opportunity for normal de-
velopment with children in some
other parts OF the city. / noticed at
that time that the sixth ward OF the
city was without a public school
building; without park and that the
city did not own single foot of prop
erty in this ward on which the chill
dren cOuId play except the public al
leys and streets i stated at that
time that l would do all in my power
20 give these children a better en-
virOnment and opportunity. As soon
as ! assumed Office / appointed a
playground and recreation committee
10 study conditions and make recon-
mendations for an adequate recrea-
ton system for the city. This COM
mittee was composed of the repre-
sentati e of the park board: the
school city and various other organ
izatiOns at that time interested in the
subject
This committee secured funds by
contrib utiOn from private sources for
tary of the Playground and Recrea-
ton Association of America After a
thorough study of the situation this
committee and the field secretary
prepared a report This report was
printed and copies were furnished
every member of your honorable body
and great many copies were distrib-
uted TO other interested citizens This
report recommended the employment
"A. trained recreation crrraa a nd
the appointment by the mayor of a
permanent committee on recreation.
This committee was Immediately APP
pointed and they in turn asked FOR
funds for the employment of a recre-
alton supervisor
Your honorable body very willingly
and unanimOuslv appropriated suf-
ticient funds for the immediate en-
ployment of such a man and it was
with pleasure that / approved the ap
preparation. Mr. + Is. Barnes was
soon selected for this position. The
committee and Mr. Barnes immediate
ly began making plans for city
Wide and all-year-roul-d system of in
! door and outdoor recreation.
The recreation committee in their
Iplans have contemplated using all the
available property already belonging
| to the public and acquiring property
only in such localities where the city
I does not own any property The
committee has made an effort to
lease property in the southwest part
of the city for a play field They
have secured the assistance of the
Rotary club to aid them in securing
the use of property for mis- purpose.
Several weeks ago the committee re-
quested me to locate a large tract Of
land in the southwest part of the
city suitable for a play field and to
secure a price on the same with a
view of purchasing it. Having real
| lied for some time the necessity of
the city owning property in this To-
cality, / willingly consented 20 secure
the information. The city has grown
along Division ST in the last . or
20 years a distance of one mile and
| is still rapidly growing in this direc-
ton. There will be need for pub
/ lie school in this vicinity before long
and part of the land secured for the
| city at this time should be used for
/ this purpose.