The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-05-01
SPEND 100000
FOR RECREATION
Movement Is Growing Rapidly,
Says Playground and Rec
reation Association.
INCREASE IN Pk!D. LEADERS
458 Cities in the United States Appro-
priated Money for Recreation Pur-
poses During the Last Year,
Says Report.


New York.-Neariy 100000 was
spent for recreation during the last
year by 45S cities in this country, SO
cities having donated Fairgrounds and
IL OF the number placing the value
OF the property given at $1,182, 100
The foregoing are a few Of the facts
and figures contained in the annual
ton Association Of America just made
public through The Playground.
Five hundred and two cities report
1854 centers under paid leadership.
the largest number recorded. Work
ers to the number Of 11,079 were en-
p.oyed to direct play at these centers.
Municipal funds were used for the en-
tire support Of the work In PA of the
cities.
In an effort to obtain the fullest
possible report from the recreation
field, QUESTIONABLE was sent out to
2,416 cities and towns In the Unit ed
States and Canada. Replies were re-
ceived from LILO of the number. Many
| cities which did not respond in any
way to the request for information
are known to be carrying on public
recreational activities in some FORM
The fact that 502 cities report play
| grounds and recreation centers main
tanned under paid leadership during
the last year is considered most en-
couragng by the association, repre-
senting as it does a satisfactory in
crease over 1920 when 465 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 10l
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 addi-
ton, 20 cities report ground and
equipment purchased with view to
establishing the work, and % cities
suggest definite plans for work next
season.
For CoIored Children.
OF the SOP cities listed In the statis-
tical table of the report 68 show lat
centers used exclusively by colored
children. Some of this cities report |
playgrounds used by both colored and |
white children
A steady increase in the number
of employed leaders is feature Of the
work. This years total, 11,079, ex-
ceeds the 1920 report by S61. OF the /
5,1S1 were men and 5,89S
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 growing number of cities.
There were 81 cities conducting such
training classes in 1921, with an en-
rollment in 80 of these cities of 1880
Training classes for volunteer work.
ars were conducted in 50 cities, as
compared with nine in 1920, and 35
Of them reported an enrolment of
$50 students. A marked improvement
S shown in the number of cities re-
Turing civil service examinations for
recreation positions in 1921, this being
II, as against 2G in 1920
Various forms of municipal admin
stration are reported by the 367 cit
tbt. MI - i, t.. |
in whole or part by munich
'al funds, the managing authority be-
ng the. school board in 1913 of the
tiles, while in SS of them power Is
ested in playground and recreation
COMMISSIONS or departments, division
cards and bureaus of recreation. In I
6 cities the work is under the author ]
y Of park boards, departments and
ureaus or park and recreation com ,
lissions. 1
In the balance of the 367 cities al {
lost every civic organization extant
as apparently been called into sery- {
.e to manage and control the recrea- e
on work, including departments of t
ublic welfare, departments of parks d
nd public property, city councils,
cards of trustees or selectmen and
apartments or boards of public
orks. In one town the local public
lfety committee was called upon;
another the department of streets
I'D public improvements in another =
lie city planning commission, while In :.
arous other cities and towns the :
ty health department. the depart :.
ent Of public affairs the public rec =
alton and welfare commission, mu- :,
cipal league and the public athletic
ague of the county were called upon !.
handle the work
by Private Organizations. N
In almost 2OU cities the managing h,
Ithority was vested in private or q,
nizatl0ns, these having the widest st
ssible range, from the Red Cross
the Rotary club, and covering &c
urches, Industrial plants, women's q,
lbs, the Y. W. G. A., the Y. NJ. G. A.. Il,
rious boys organizations, parent ar
acner associations. settlements, and no