Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-07
MUNICIPAL RECREATION
BY NEyA X. DEARDORFF

Bureau Of Municipal RvscHr,h, philadtlrhia
TNO TAKE play seriously sounds n bit
l. paradoxical, but that i3 now the ac-
cepted attitude among those who are
breaking new ground for human and So
cial progress. Tnc play instinct In hu-
man beings has been carefully studied
its psyche logy and its relations 10 work,
to citizenship. even to soldering, have
been examined and analysed. We know
what to expect when IT Is starved.
The consequences Of this study have
already been far-reaching even though
we are only at the beginning Of this
new age of conscious recreation. Work
days are being shortened, an item for
recreation ~ included IN family budgets,
schools are providing play opportunities,
some public Fairgrounds have been
opened, libraries are helping OUT,
churches, settlements. y. VI. &. As, Y
W. {. As, summer camps and many
other social service organizations are
going seriously into the business of di-
recting this human instinct and OF ful-
filing this human need. IL IS no longer
"A question OF thoge who have and can
doing some kind-hearted act for those
who haven't and can't. but rather it il
Il
none of our fellow citizens grows stunted
and dwarfed for the lack Of opportunity
to satisfy II craving az natural and COM
pellinE ~ our desire for food.
That healthful recreation can prevent
and euro much juvenile delinquency has
been proved beyond the shadow of n
doubt The idea that normal children
must play or they won't remain normal
il now quite familiar. What we haven't
learned SO well Is that men and women
are. in this respect, just like children.
They, too. become abnormal II life gives
them no chance for recreation.
All Of us knew how. oven with the
most fascinating and stimulating work,
We "grow stale on the job" II we carry
Il around with us sixteen hours day
and every day in the year How much
staler must become the job of repeating
sone small process III industry thou
sands CT times each day. Just mere
cessation Of work at night and on Sun
days is not enough TO recreatc mind and
body 4 well-known psychologist has
given the lack Of relaxation as one OF
the big causes cf alcoholism. The hu-
man mental machine must rest the
higher nerve centers, and for many, both
rich and poor, the only resource they
know is John BarleyCorn. Others with
little relaxation, but greater powers OF
self-contrOl, suCCumb 10 nervous break
down. Moro outdoor life. more fun. more
opportunities to get down fer brief pc
RODS from our high-tensiOn existence
and live in primitive simplicity--these
are some Of the means by which we can
prevent disease, crime. alcoholism and
the restless discomfort that charaC.erizes
so many people these days.
But we haven't done nearly enough in
popular education on the use OF leisure.
Thus far the so-called leisure class
hasn't set a very high standard. and now
that the rest OF us are getting 4 little
mere time to play we hardly know how
TO go about II. One constantly hears Il
said that it IL foolish to provide leisure
for the worEngman, because he would
only spend II In idlenes, or worse. II
he does. then II Is Il rcproaclI to the
community In which he lives. because IL
IL evidence Of defective education and
serious mental impovcrishment,
We need more playthinSs both for
Juveniles and adults. We haven't nearly
enough to go round. We should open
the public schools. We need more play
grounds. swimming and wading pools.
skating ponds, gymnasiums, halls for
dancing, plays and concerts more parks,
gardens and camps. All Of these things
should he within easy reach of all
This seems like big order. We shall
need tC make careful community and
neighborhood plans that will pool and
utilize fully what We have and that will
then Al in the gaps That Is where we
of Philadelphia must take recreation
uerIouslV