The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-05

recreation centers, according to the 1918 Year
Book of the Playground and Recreation Associa-
ton of America just issued. The demand for OPP
portunities to play after work hours is as wide
spread as it is encouraging. There has been a
marked increase during the year both in the CEN
tiers for evening recreation and the attendance
there
Unquestionably the fact that 35 per cent of
the men in the first draft were rejected as ply
sically unfit has made Americans realize how
essential is upbuilding exercise and recreation
under the guidance of trained leaders. The sta
tistics collected after correspondence with 100
cities indicate healthy and steady progress in
recreation work. The report of the association
shows that more than 780 Fairgrounds were open
the year round and evening recreation work was
conducted in more than TOO schools of 101 cities.
More than 5000 trained men and women were
engaged in directing play at recreation centers
throughout the country.
For colored children alone more than 100
Fairgrounds were maintained. Three hundred
swimming POOLS 400 public baths and 200 public
bathing beaches were used by thousands of per-
sons.
The effect of the war upon Fairgrounds and
recreation was reported by 277 cities, 172 of
which give the result as unfavorable The de-
crease in attendance is attributed to the fact that
many of the older children were working in fac
tories. Moreover, it was hard to get trained,
competent leaders because of the number of men
who went into the service of their country and
of women who engaged in war work. In many
cases, appropriations were cut down, playground
funds were devoted to war garden activities and
the Fairgrounds themselves were used by war
agencies.
But los cities reported that the war so far
from checking recreation work. had stimulated
it. The attendance of small children increased,
did that of their elders at the evening sessions.
Appropriations were enlarged and more centers
established. The number of cities initiating such
work was smaller than in 1917, being reduced to
go, but those cities which continued the work
called for greater number of leaders to conduct
their greater activities.
On the WHOLE the year of 1918 shows many
gains. Everywhere community leaders and citi-
zens participated in community singing, pageants
and special community gatherings. Especially
were they brought to realize what recreation di-
rected by trained leaders, meant to the men in
uniform. This realization has given momentum
to the recreational movement all over the United
States.
The association reports that complete returns
from 396 cities show that they maintained 1871
Fairgrounds and neghborhood centers under
paid leadership In 281 of these cities the work
was administered wholly or in part by some de-
partment of municipality that is, 70.9 per cent
of the total and an increase of 10 per cent over
1917. In addition to municipal activities, centers
were maintained by Playground and Recreation
Associations and Leagues, Civic Clubs and Asso-
Citations, Improvement Clubs, Parent-Teachers
Associations and Home School Leagues the Y.
VI. c. A. and Y. W. c. A., Playground Committees,
Social Service Leagues Welfare and Relief As
sociations, Settlements, Chautauqua Associa-
lions, Settlements, Chautauqua Associations, Art
Clubs, Athletic Leagues, Neighborhood Associa-
tions and Councils of Defense. In conclusion the
Year Book says:
1.-THE past year, in spite of the curtailment
and retrenchment which has marked the work in
certain communities, has been signalized by a
spirit of progress.
Everywhere community leaders and citizens,
as they have watched and taken part in commun-
ity singing, pageants and in special celebrations
and community gatherings and have seen what
the provision of wholesome social and recreation
al life has meant to the in uniform, have
realized as before, the real significance and
scope of the recreation movement.
'"The conservation of this newly awakened ap-
probation of recreation, it has been aroused
during the war, and its application to the period
of reconstruction and to normal peace times, will
in no small measure, devolve upon the recreation
officials and workers to whose unceasing efforts
| is due the progress which has thus far been at
tanned"