The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-13
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
By FREDERIC J. HAsKIN, Director.
washington, d. C.
TEACHING THE CITIES TO PLAY

TEACHING THE CITIES TO PLAY.
Washington, D. c.. Oct 13.-Aneri- !
can cities are beginning to solve the
problem of play. 1t is only in the
last few years that the United states
has become a country predominantly
urban instead of rural in it's popula-
ton. and this urban population has
had q hard time getting the outdoor
air and exercise it needs. The soIu-
ton of the problem seems TO lie IN
the municipal playground and athlet-
ic field. which has come to be a feat
ure of the parks of almost every pro-
greSsive city in the last few years.
The federal Census Bureau has just
completed an investigation of the
parks and Fairgrounds of every city
in the United States. which contains
some interesting facts.
For the purposes of this work, the
Census Bureau takes account Of all
cities of 10000 inhabitants or more.
There are 213 such cities in the United
States-a measure of the rapidity with
which the balance of the population is
moving from the country to the city.
Neither the country boy nor the coufl-
try-dwelling man needs any outdoor
recreation facilities: he has only to
step across his threshold to be in an
out-of- door that affords the sports for
which games are only a substitute.
Much attention has been given to the
problem of furnishing country dwell
lers with intellectual and artistic rec
reation, in an attempt to keep them
from moving to the city in too great
numbers; but there has so far been
little attention paid to providing them
with outdoor sports within average
means after they arrive in the city.
But the movement is under way, and
it is growing steadily.
City PARIS or Fairgrounds.
q.
Bers and size. and the idea of the city
park is changing completely. Not so
long ago it comprised a green, shad-
ed by stately trees and traversed by
winding walks and drives, which lived
under the rule of Keep off the grass.
Nowadays the tendency is to urge the
public to stay on the grass as much
as possible and to play everything
from football to eroquet thereon.
The censhs bureau Classics the ia
cilities fer outdoor games maintained
by American cities into Fairgrounds
and athletic fields, according as they
are intended for children to use or
for adults The 213 cities included in
the investigation maintain from their
municipal funds 1900 Fairgrounds.
In the case of the children, some
thing more than a mere outdoor space
marked off fer games is required. The
children need a leader when what
is broken, as it is among many city
children.
In the small town and the country
the small boys pick up their knowl-
edge of the national games from the
boys a little older. and an tinbroken
tradition Of the seasons and rules for
all games, from marbles to baseball,
is passed unbroken from generation
to generation. In the big city this is
not the case. AS the president of
the Playground ana Recreation Asso-
citation of America puts it, Children
Inherit an Instinct Of play but they do
not inherit a knowledge of baseball
Out of this need for Leadership IN
| children's games has grown a new
field of opportunity and a new pro-
fession-that of recreation Supervisor
and leader of games. American cities
| today employ $500 men and women
| of this new profession, and the de-
mand is greater than the supply. The
task of the play leader is to put him
self at the head of the group of chill
dren, to teach them the rules of the
| games, and the underlying spirit of
| fair play and nship that is
| the foundation of the best American
athletics. There is no teacher who
has a greater opportunity to form
| childreR'S character than this leader
of play.
Some interesting light is thrown on
the popularity of various games by
the figures collected by the Census
! Bureau. Tennis would seem to be the
| game that is coming forwards most
| rapidly. There are 3,36S public ten
mis- courts maintained by the cities of
America. The facts that the game
can be quickly learned, that it fur
nishes an excellent outdoor exercise
not too Violent, that it can be. played
| by pesple of any age and of either
| sex, seem to guarantee that tennis
will always stand near the top among
municipal games. Its popularity is
undoubtedly growing rapidly. Equip
ment is not expensive, which is point
of first Importance, for the municipal
athletic field is intended for people
who do not belong to country clubs.
The question of the expense OF
equipment ACCOUNTS partly for the
relatively small place occupied by
golf in municipal athletic fields. An
other point which tends to keep gqli
down is the large space required ir
proportion to the number of people
who can enjoy the sport at giver
time. Especially in the East where
park room is at premium, the nu4
nicipal golf course occupies a dispro-
portionately large part of the ParF
! space There are. only Sc municipa
golf courses among the American
cities. Polo, the rich mans game
par excellence. is represented by only
g grounds in the 21S cities.
Baseball, traditional leader Of
American sports. is represented by
.334 municipal diamonds. Consider.
ing that fS men can play on a single
diamond, while a tennis ceure take.
care of four at most. the facilities fol
baseball may he said to BE greater
than for any other sport. It Is a ques
ton, however, whether the tenni.
l | courts are not in more continuous
use The PIG cities also maintain So
football gridirons.
Games Played In Parks.
Besides these major sports, Their
are a host of others whose dev6tee
are provided for in the municipa
parks of the nation. Outdoor basket
ball fields are numerous, ana the tw
popular Y. NJ. c. A. games hand bal
: and volley-ball. are beEfnnina to 5