The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-07

Interested in the play Of children,
met in the city OF Washington to
nsider the advisability of forming
a national organization which should
Lave fer its object a furthering OF
the general movement. then begin
nlnc to focus in all parts of the
country, for providing children with
places where they might have real
plav and safe play Among this group
D. PEOPLE wear: DR.. Luther II. Gu
lick Dr. Henry S. Curtis. DIR. Seth 7.
Stewart. DR. Myron T. Scudder. Miss
Sadie American. Miss Marie r. Hof-
er. Miss Amalie Hofer.
II is true. the children OF America
were playing and had always played
in the backyards, on the streets and
ia the alleys, on the railroad track,
the fire-escapes and roofs CT the city.
rs well az in that ideal play ground
the open country But it was being
forced home to the thinking men
End women Ct America that most of
these Fairgrounds are neither safe
nor adequate and that something
must be done by the community as
srch to protect the city child. II was
further recognized that adults must
helr the child to find a place large
ercugh and safe enough where he
may without hindrance carry on the
business Of his life, which is to play,
the child himself being powerless in
the situation.
This group of men and women
formed the nucleus out OF which has
developed the Playground and Recre-
alton Association of America
a beginning in the establishment
OF Fairgrounds in the u S. had been
made prior to 1906. Not. however.
until that year, when the Playground
and Recreation Association of Amer
lea first called the Playground AS
scc;ation Of America) definitely set
about to influence public opinion,
was any concerted action taken for
the guidance of the great wave of
interest in Fairgrounds that was
then beginning its full onward
sweep.
New England generally and Mas
sachusetts particularly has taken the
leading part in this movement for
the rights of childhood. as she has
led in so many other movements for
progress and social betterment In
the city of Boston. children's play
grounds, mainly in the form OF sand
gardens, had been In existence ~
early as 1888. 1t is reported that the
first outdoor gymnasium in America
vas that laid out In the spring OF
1856 at the Round Hill School.
Northampton, Mass. Lynn followed
| the example of Boston in 1889
Then in 1895 Philadelphia started
her work and in 1896 came New
York and Pittsburg. 1t was in 1896
that the great metropolis Of the
West-Chicago which by furnish
ing model as to equipment and or
ganization. has, perhaps. done more
than any toher American city in the
movement. entered upon its magnili
cent campaign. In 1904. the Metro
po!itan Parks Commission of hat
city furnished the first extensive
/ playground plan ever devised in
any American community.
In 1906, definite plan of propa,
ganda was organized Prior to that
time forty-one communities had rec
c2n:zed the necessity of play for
children and had met il by establish
ing public playgraunds They were
Ecston. Lynn, Rochester. Philadel. !.
phia, Baltimore. New York. Pitts
burgh, Chicago, Hartford. Holyoke.
Albany. Utica, Buffalo. Louisville.
Cleveland. Detroit. New Bedford.
Washington. Portland tMe.). Cam
bridge. Grand Rapids, Manchester
On. H.. New Haven. Milwaukee, st.
Paul. Harrisburg. Indianapolis. Prov
idence. Redding. Richmond. St.
Iouis, Denver, Houston. Jersey City.
, Les Angeles. Minneapolis. Omaha.
Springfield tMass.). Toledo. Wilkes