South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-13


committee Monday morning gave
out the printed report OF the work
OF that committee since its inception
IN September. 1914. The report Is
printed In a booklet containing facts
regarding the development OF the
recreation work in South Bend dur
ing the past Is months. and illustra-
tions OF various Fairgrounds and
feature events conducted under the
jurisdiction Of the committee. The
report Is addressed TO the mayor.
members OF the council. the school
board. and citizens Interested in the
work Of the committee, and states
shat South Bend kas taken the lead
over all cities in Indiana in this line
Of work.
According 10 the report more than
10000 persons, one-third Of whom
were adults attended the play
grounds in the city during the fall
and summer Of 1915. 1t was point
ed out that four Fairgrounds. one
playfield and another 2O-acre tract
which Will be eventually used az a
playfield. have been secured during
the life OF the committee. This COM
mittee is composed OF Mr.. Hammer
schmidt, chairman, Mrs Homer J.
Miller. secretary treasurer; Mrs.
Clement Snogor, u. G. Manning.
William Glenn. Herbert D. Warner,
Richard Elbei and +. b. Barnes.
recreation director.
Portions OF the report given out
Monday showing the development OF
the work. follow:
During this short period. four
Fairgrounds and one playheld were
provided and supervised; another
2o-acre playfield secured for future
!. development. During the summer
land fall OF 1915 there was an at
.. kndance of about 12O. 600 al these
Ry places. A Civic federation con-
NIX OF 10 social centers. repre-
every part OF the city, was
tzed. The committee has as
listed and supervised these constitu-
mt organizations which. during this
YperiOd held 119 meetings with a
total attendance of over 10000. An
Amateur Athletic federation to pro-
mote amateur athletics in accord
ance with approved standards was
ID
teams with more than 500 players
and conducted two track and field
meets. Public school an Interplay
ground leagues were formed. COM
prising 1000 players and playing
over 200 matched games. school and
home garden departments were or
ganized TWO municipal Christmas
tree festivals were carried out. Com
munity singing was inaugurated.
Courses in civics for the social cen
tiers arranged. Class in parliament-
airy law formed for the officers OF
the social centers. Training work
was organized for playground direc-
tors. for leaders in singing. and for
boys and girls clubs; and a variety
OF other activities detailed in the fol-
lowing report:
What Recreation IS.
Before entering upon our detail
cd report, it will be we'll to consider
briefly what recreation is.
Recreation is what we do in the
periods when We are not working or
sleeping. Recreation is the thing
we do when we seek pleasure or di-
L
Recreation or play ia not a frill or
luxury attached to life; it is life itself
in the making. It is the portion OF
life with its promise Of pleasure and
free expression that impeIs us 70
study and labor through the other
waking periods OF our lives. and il is
principally through the activities of
the recreation period that our char
acters are formed and our lives are
shaped. What we do i'm this play
time largely determines our happi-
ness and usefulness. II recreation is
OF destructive nature. the result is
broken health mental decline.
vicious habits and wrecked lives. II
reSreational activities are of n con-
structive character. the result is bet
ter health, greater skill. stronger
character and more useful lives.
The work OF the recreation com
mittee is concerned with this period
OF time which we commonly refer To
as the leisure period Any activity
which may be organized TO make
this period contribute to a larger.
more complete and happy life is
within the scope of the municipal
recreation committee ANY plans
which will promote the physical fit
ness. mental training social life and
moral vigor Of the children and
adults OF the community come with
In the range OF this committee
The committee believes that ra-
uonal. organized mental and phys
ical recreation may be made a
means whereby an the hours OF the
day shall be infused with new viRor
vision. power and happiness. and
that such program will go far to-
ward improving the citizenship OF
this community.
What OF Social CclItcrS.
1--WE think IL well 20 outline here
the municipal recreation Committees
conception OF what social centers
should be.
A social center is q place where
people come together on a basis OF
absolute equality for the promotion
OF those Things in which all have n
common interest; a place where the
vqnple Of "a uafrh hprhona as. 49,.