The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-17
A RECREATION CENSUS
Shows That Nearly 1000 New Play.
grounds Were Started in 1915.

grounds Were Started in 1915.
Four hundred and thirty-two Ameri
can cities maintained neighborhood play
grounds under the direction of play lead.
ers during the year which ended Nov. l
1915. During the last two years ll6
cities have established Fairgrounds. The
number of new Fairgrounds secured is
nearly 1000, bringing the total number
of Fairgrounds now in operation up to
1924. When the Playground and Rec
reation Association of America was or
gained less than 10 years ago only a
few of the larger cities ever had summer
Fairgrounds, and many of these were
supported by private funds Now Ill
cities employ 1858 play leaders through
out the year. Reports from % cities
where the neighborhood Fairgrounds are
open throughout the year showed 573
year-round Fairgrounds.
Fairgrounds Municipal.
In $50 cities, more than half of the
432 cities, Fairgrounds, like parks and
schools, are administered by the munich
pality itself. Everywhere city govern
ments are recognizing that the mainte-
nance OF neighborhood Fairgrounds is
regular government obligation.
Play Leaders.
Seventy cities maintain classes for
training recreation workers. Two thous-
and one hundred and sixty-four students
are reported in 55 of these cities. A new
profession has grown up. Within two
years the number of play leaders in
creased l,lS9, so that there are now 1907
workers employed in addition to 1920
caretakers.
100000 Expended.
Last year the expenditures reported in
the cities of America were $4066,3T7.l5. !
Tn addition the Playground and Recrea-
ton Association of America spent SS2,-
505.79. In - cities bond issues for rec
reation purposes We're authorized, the
bond issues authorized in IL of these
amounting to Sl,663,750 In 40 cities
neighborhood Fairgrounds have been do
mated to the city by private individuals,
the value OF this property in Is of these
cities is $497 100.
More Than 700 Buildings.
Six hundred and twelve school build
ings are reported to be in use as evening
recreation centers in 1876 cities. Fifty
five cities report l46 buildings which are
set aside and wholly given over as neigh
borhood recreation center buildings. In
26 cities streets are set aside for play.
One hundred and thirty-nine cities have
306 swimming pools. Ninety-four cities
reported 3l4 public baths.
Daily Attendance More Than $4,000
The average daily attendance on the {
summer Fairgrounds in $50 cities report !
ing was Sl4,l0S. Ninety cities reported /
an average daily attendance at winter t
centers of 2OO,47s.
The Playground and Recreation Asso- /,
citation of America correspondent with c
more than 900 cities and towns which y
have not yet secured a single playground. I
in addition to the 432 cities which have i
Fairgrounds, there are 33S cities which v
do not have Fairgrounds and play lead d
ers which report some progress, such as i
land secured, an appropriation made. or {
plans laid, so that no cities were active Il
in one way or another in the play move h
ment last year. Reports were received =
from 1897 of the 1850 cities from whom :,
was sought.
Within less than six years the nation i
al association has been in correspondence !,
with about 22.5O0 different persons in the =
cities of America, and last year trained 4
field secretaries from the association :,
worked in 81 cities. Among the leaders !,
in the Playground and Recreation Asso- n
riation of America are: Joseph Lee, Bos- II
ton: Henry p. Dawson, New York; Rob =,
prt Garrett. Baltimore Gustavus T. Kir- ).
by, New York. The main office is Mad !;
ison avenue, New York. There are !,
branch offices in Chicago and Birming i
ham. ~