Omaha daily bee., 1917-10-15
Teaching the Cities to Play
Bg Frederic J. Hdskin

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in the last few years that the United States has
become country predominantly urban instead
of rural in its population, and this urban popu-
lation has had hard time getting the outdoor
air and exercise it needs. The solution of the
problem seems TO lie in the municipal playground
and athletic field, which has come to be fea-
ture of the parks of almost every progressive 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
For the purpose of this work the census
bureau takes account of all cities Of 10000 inhab
itants or more. There are 213 such cities in the
which the balance of population is moving from
the country to the city. Neither the country boy
nor the country-dwelling man needs any outdoor
recreation facilities; he has only to step across
his threshold to be in an out-of-doors that af-
fords the sports for which games are only sub
stitute. Much attention has been given to the
problem of furnishing country dwellers with in
tellectual and artistic recreation in an attempt to
keep them from moving to the city in too great
numbers; but there has so far been little atten-
ton 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 parks are increasing in numbers and size,
and the idea of the city park is changing COM
pletely. Not so long ago it comprised a green,
shaded 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 much
as possible and to play everything from foot ball
to croquet thereon.
The census bureau classifes the facilities for
outdoor games maintained by American cities into
Fairgrounds and athletic fields, according as they
are intended for children to use or for adults.
The 2l3 cities included in the investigation main
tain from their municipal funds 1900 Fairgrounds.
In the case of the children something more than
a mere outdoor space marked off for games is re-
CURED. The children need leader, when what
may be called the tradition of play" is broken
as it is among many city children.
In the small town and the country the small
boys pick up their knowledge of the national
games from the boys little Older and an un-
games from marbles to base ball is passed un-
broken from generation to generation. In the
big city this is not the case. AS the president of
the Playground and Recreation Association of
America puts it, children inherit an instinct of
play, but they do not inherit knowledge OF base
Out of this need for leadership in children's
games has grown new field of opportunity and
new PROFESSIONALISM of recreation supervisor and
leader of games American cities today employ
$500 men and women of this new profession and
the demand is greater than the supply. The task
of the play leader is to put himself at the head
of the group of children to teach them the rules
of the games and the underlying spirit of fair play
and sportsmanship that is the foundation of the
has greater opportunity to form children's char
acter than this leader of play.
Some interesting light is thrown on the popu-
larity OF various games by the figure: collected
by the census bureau. Tennis would seem to
be the game that is coming forward most rapidly.
There are 1868 public tennis court maintained by
the cities of America. The facts that the game
can be quickly learned, that it furnishes an ex-
celent outdoor exercise not too violent that 1t
can be played by people 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.
Equipment 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 oc-
cuped by golf in municipal athletic fields. An
other point which tends to keep golf down in the
large space required in proportion to the number
Of people who can enjoy the sport at a given time.
Especially in the east, where park room is at
premium, the municipal golf course occupies dis
proportionately large part of the park space.
There are only sixty-six municipal golf courses
among the American cities. Polo, the rich mans
game par excellence, is represented by only nine
Base bali, traditional leader of American
sports, is represented by 1884 municipal dia-
monds. Considering that eighteen men can play
on a single diamond, while tennis court takes
care of four at most the facilities for base ball
may be said to be greater than for any other
sport. 1t is a question, however, whether the
tennis courts are not in more continuous use. The
2l3 cities also maintain 33l foot ball gridirons.
Besides these major sports, there are host
of others whose devotees are provided for IN the
municipal parks of the nation. Outdoor basket
ball fields are numerous and the two popular
Young Mems Christian association games. hand
ball and volley ball, are beginning TO- be recog-
nized on municipal athletic fields. A few aristo-
cratic cities provide cricket fields for those who
would emulate our English allies and cousins,
Northern cities provide toboggan slides, skating
rinks and hockey rinks. Here and there some
city turns up with an advantage peculiar to itself.
Cleveland boasts the only municipal la crosse
field and Des Mones the only municipal rifle
range.
Another municipal recreation facility which is
probably the most popular of all, Judging by the
number of people who patronize it, is the swim
ming pool or bathing beach. There are 237 such
maintained by the cities. and the attendance last
year was over 26000000. In the hot waves OF
the east and middle west they are godsends and
life savers.
The whole playground movement which
brought with it the athletic field for adults is of
very recent growth The last decade has prac-
tically seen its development. Boston is generally
credited with being the pioneer in this field
since the first organized outdoor playground was
established in that city in 1885, Bostonians are
fond of tracing their tradition in this matter back
to colonial days. when party Of Boston boys
playing on the common were chased off by group
of British soldiers. The boys with true Pilgrim
spirit carried their case to Governor Gage. who
gave orders that the children of the town should
he nrotected in their Dlay.