Evening journal., 1920-04-16
nrcRr.rloN AIDS RrooNsTRuorIoN.

~ ELANAREANS who interested In the establish
- ment and maintenance OF public Fairgrounds and
other recreation will be Interested In knowing
what an important part such places playing IN the
work OF reconstruction H forth clearly in the 1919
year book OF the Playground Recreation Association
Of America summary Of which has Just been made
public
Progress in the recreation movement shown by the
number OF bond voted for this purpose in 1912
seventeen cities report total OF si35i0OO0 amount
which exceeds the 1918 figures by si3lhO73ii. Pitts
burgh has issued ss3iOoo worth OF bonds Deros
paign for additional playground facilities resulted in an
agreement si00ooOoo Portland, Orea issued $780,
900 bonds for this purpose. indianapolis issued ss7-
900 in bonds.
In ssi cities more than s65OoOOO was spent 1919 for
recreation facilities
In the belief Of leaders in the playground movement,
increasing interest may be explained in part by the fact
people realizing the necessity OF supplying inn
medaey substitute for the social features OF the
saloon.
Recreation in 1919 laid more emphasis than be-
fore community spr-the having shown the need
ol strengthening the feeling OF neighborness Commun
ty singing pageanis pcnics and other large group ac-
vites took hold upon the people last year. Bockpares.
neshborhood orchesiras and similar activities char
acteristic of the movement
The Playground and Recreation Association Of America
has gathered reports from than 1900 cities which
show that i2s cities during 1919 maintained 1000 play
grounds and recreation cenlers under paid leadership
More than thirty cities took up work OF this kind for
The FIRST time 1919. most encouraging feature, from
the point OF view OF the and who wish the
success that leaders being developed for
this work. More than 5000 men and women were en-
poyed by municipalities to direct the playground actlv
ties or this number 1855 worked throughout the year
Thus the people got from their Fairgrounds
than in previous years. There more Fairgrounds
open at night than before. million and a-ha people
spent their extra hour OF daylight in heah-glvng recre
alton in 96s ceniers maintained by i6 cities in different
parts OF the United states
Tho OF school buildings for evening recreation
work has throughout she country In i6 cities
SIG such plants are thrown open TO the public From
% cities, reports TO the Playground Recreation
Association of America to the effect that 25i buildings
were being used exclusively for recreation. In 81 OF
these cities, $4,000 people 1ocked to the buildings Tho
records Of the association that this meant twice
as many people interesting themselves in recreation as
In 1918.
In e3s cities, swimming pools public baths and bathing
have been maintained by public funds and have
been used by many hundreds of thousands OF people
Municipal officials beginning to realize their responsi
bty in the matter OF recreation, for in 300 cities this
work either wholly In part administered in 1919
by city department In 32o cities 1t supported
wholly in part by public funds The Association found
that lightweight communities were carrying recre
atonal work without public aid.
Property valued at nearly million dollars given
in thirty cities by individuals for use as Fairgrounds
and recreation ceners In twentyest other cities land
and equipment given for this purpose were valued at high
figures These gifts have been all parts Of the
country resident OF Red Bluff, California recently
turned over TO his community playground valued at
10000. Fall River, Massachusetts, has acquired center
valued OF $1,000 East Orange. New Jersey Is having I'M
pFovemeus made in park playground on 100000 con-
tract. citizen Of this town has taken ihs means OF
erecting memorial TO his father
Plsysrcunds Rave been donated IN 1919 In John.ovn