Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-19
PRAISES THE MOVEMENT
TO INCREASE CITY PARKS
Wrongs Against Society Committed
During Leisure Hours, Says
Gov. Brumbaugh.
Writes to President Mcfarland Of
American Civic Association
on the Subject.

/
mitted by our people not in their hours
of work, but in their hours of leisure, y
writes Gov. Martin G. Brumbaugh of
Pennsylvania to President ]. Horace
Mcfarland of the American Civic AS
ISOLATION at Washington, in commenda-
ton of it's movement for the extension
and larger use of parks in American
cities, according to statement made
public today by the association.
That the economic value of parks
and recreational areas is being recog-
ntzed today to a greater extent than
ever before is amply demonstrated by
the reports that come to the associa-
ton of municipal procedure for the
requirement Of increased park lands,
and at the same time changed methods
of administration" says the associa-
tons announcement. 1.-The new atti-
tude toward parks is that they shall be
service parks-not merely ornamental
adornments for the exclusive use of the
few who ride, but for the millions who
walk. The importance of the accessi-
bility of parks to the masses of the
population is illustrated by the grow
ing habit, in the creation of park sys-
tens. of acquiring many small parks.
tremendously distributed and connect
ed, rather than the maintenance of one
The large park will continue to be
popular. but it will be supplemented
by groups of small parks given over to
recreation purposes. Verboten,' in re-
carded injunction; now it is, Welcome
everywhere.
Cities Extending Parks.
''The great war, which has exerted a
disquieting effect on many beneficial ac-
tivites the world over, seems not to
have interfered with the progress of Amer
lean municipalities in doing the things
that should be done for their citizens.
From all parts of the United States go
out reports Of municipal bond issues for
new and extended parks The great
cities of New York. Philadelphia. Boston
and Chicago are not content with their
expenditures of millions upon millions
in years gone by for parks. They are
spending more and more. and their ex-
ample is being followed by scores and
hundreds of smaller cities. The story
Of how Kansas City surmounted topo-
graphical eccentricities to create a park
system is as well known as the story of
Kansas City's pre-eminence in the supply
Of beef for the markets of the world.
Harrisburg. Pa, recently paused to con-
template in a public celebration its i'm
provement achievements during the past
eleven years. notable among which has
been the requirement of SoS acres OF
park land, equal to one acre for every
seventy-six Of its population. Lincoln.
Neb.. has just passed a bond issue OF
$50, 900 to buy park lands, and public
spirited citizen has donated to the city
beautiful tract Of land worth thousands
Of dollars for the same purpose. Chat
tanooga. Seattle, Spokane. FL Paso, San
Antonio, Dallas, Minneapolis. Milwaukee.
Detroit, Rochester. Columbus. Ohio. and
Columbus, Ca: Jacksonville, Charlotte,
G-Y1 N~yv1 yaA16
Mass; Hartford, Conn: st. Louis, and
SO on in an almost endless chain are
all working out the park problems in a
notable manner.
"Gov. Brumbaugh sounds well the new
attitude in his letter, as follows:
81 believe that one Of the great social
and economic problems Of our American
life is the conservation OF our people In
their hours Of leisure
Must Turn to This Matter.
ave have reduced the hours Of work
and we did well. We have made no
provision for the increased hours of
leisure thus provided. We have not
made it easy for our people to find
wholesome. happy. healthful recrea-
ton. and it is my judgment that in the
very near future we must turn our
attention to this matter in a serious,
citizenship of this great republic.
~ am a firm Deliver in the neces-
sity and value of recreation centerS
and of Fairgrounds for our people, and
these should be made as ample, and az
convenient to the residences of our
people as possible.
"If we are to conserve the health, the
morals and the fine spirit Of enthusi-
asm SO vital to the welfare of our
people, we have in this recreational
movement the greatest opportunity for
good now lying within the field Of
social service.
THE wrongs against society are COM
mitted by our people not in their hours
of work, but in their hours of leisure.
and the responsibility lies not wholly
with the people who perform these un-
fortunate acts. but with the people who
have not been wise enough to see to 1t
that the fundamental business Of the
community at large is to see that it be-
comes increasingly easy for the people to
do right. and increasingly hard for
them to do wrong"