Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-05-18
SPEND S9,oO0,OOO
FOR RECREATION
Movement Is Growing Rapidly,
Says Playground and Rec
reatlon Association.
INCREASE IN PAID LEADERS
45s Cities In the United States Appro-
prlated Money for Recreation Pur.
poses During the Last Year,
Says Report.


Says Report.
New York.-Nearly 100000 was
spent for recreation during the last
year by 458 cities in this country, 50
cities having donated Fairgrounds and
IL Of the number placing the value
OF the property given at $1.1s2, 100.
The foregoing are few Of the facts
and figures contained in the annual
report Of the Playground and Recrea-
ton Association Of America just made
public through The Playground.
Five hundred and two cities report
4.5S4 centers under paid leadership,
the largest number recorded. Work
ers to the number Of 11.079 were en-
ployed to direct play at these centers.
Municipal funds were used for the en-
tire support Of the work in 244 Of the
cities.
In an effort to obtain the fullest
possible report from the recreation
field, a questionable was sent out to
2,476 cities and towns in the United
States and Canada. Replies were re-
ceived from Ito Of the number. Many
cities which did not respond in any
way to the request for information
are known to be carrying on public
recreati0nal activities In some form.
The fact that SOP cities report play
grounds and recreation centers main
tanned under paid leadership during
the last year Is considered most en-
couraHng by the association, repre-
senting as 1t does a satisfactory In
crease over 1920, when 1855 cities so
reported. The total Of 1854 centers
also shows satisfactory growth. as
compared with the 4,293 reported last
year.
In addition to the 500 cities which
are carrying on recreational activities
under paid leadership, centers are
maintained in many other cities, as
shown by the reports received. Among
these are school Fairgrounds in 1O1
cities, school Fairgrounds with special
paid leaders In three cities, centers
under volunteer leadership in six cities
and unsupervised centers In SO cities
Fifty-one cities initiated the work
during 1921, "a Of them wholly or part.
ly under municipal control. In add.
ton, 20 cities report ground and
equipment purchased with a view to
establishing the work. and % cities
suggest definite plans for work next
season.
For colored Children.
OF the SOP cities listed In the statis-
teal table of the report, 6S show LAT
centers used exclusively by colored
children. Some Of the cities report
Fairgrounds used By both colored and
white children.
A steady increase in the number
of employed leaders Is feature Of the
work. This years total, HOB, ex.
ceeds the 1920 report BY sci. OF the
number, 5.1S1 were men and 5,S9S
women.
AS the number of trained workers
In this field Is growing steadily, train
Ing classes for them, whether EN-.
ployed or volunteer. are being estab-
lished In a growing number Of cities.
There were "a cities conducting such
training classes In 1921, with an en-
rollment in so of these cities of 1850.
Training classes for volunteer work
ers were conducted In co cities, as
compared with nine In 1920, and 80
of them reported an enrolment of
1890 students A marked Improvement
Is shown In the number Of cities re-
quiring civil service examinations for
recreation positions In 1921, this being
Al, as against &c in 1920
Various forms Of municipal admin
istration are reported by the 367 cit.
les, the playground work Of which Is
supported In whole or part by munich.
pal funds, the managing authority be.
ing the school board in 1913 of the
cities while in SO of them power is
vested in playground and recreation
commissions or departments, division
boards and bureaus Of recreation. In
SO cities the work Is under the author.
tty Of park boards, departments and
bureaus or park and recreation com.
missions.
In the balance Of the 367 cities al
most every civic organization extan,
has apparently been called into serv.
Ice to manage and control the recrea
ton work, including departments OF
public welfare, departments Of parks
and public property, city councils
boards Of trustees or selectmen ant
departments or boards Of public
works. In one town the local public
safety committee was called upon
In another the department of streets