The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-04-27
Movement Is Growing Rapidly,
Says Playground and Rec
reation Association.
INCREASE IN PAID LEADERS
459 Cities in the United States Appro-
priated Money for Recreation Pur-
poses During the Last Year,
Says Report.

New York.-Nearly 100000 was
spent for recreation during the last
year by 45S cities in this country, 90
cities having donated Fairgrounds and
is Of the number placing the value
of the property given at Sl,lS2, 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 cen.ers under paid leadership
the largest number recorded. Work
ers to the number of 11,O79 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, QUESTIONABLE was sent out to
2,476 cities and towns in the United
States and Canada. Replies were re-
celved from 1,170 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 SOP cities report play
grounds and recreation centers main
tanned under paid leadership during
the last year is considered most en-
couraging by the association repre-
senting as it does a satisfactory in
crease over 1920, when 465 cities so
reported. The total of 1851 centers
also shows satisfactory growth, as
compared with the 4293 reported last
year.
In addition to the SOP 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 101
cities, school Fairgrounds with special
paid leaders in three cities, centers
under volunteer leadership in six cities
and unsupervised centers in 50 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 a view to
establishing the work, and % cities
suggest definite plans for work next
season.
For coIored Children.
OF the SOP cities listed in the stats,
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, 11O79. ex.
ceeds the 1920 report by SOL OF the
number, 5lSl 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.
lshed in a growing number of cities.
There were "a cities conducting such
training classes in 1921 with an en-
rolment in 80 Of these cities of 1850.
Training classes for volunteer work
ers were conducted in 60 cities, as
compared with nine In 1920, and 30
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 20 In 1920.