The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-05-19
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 $9,000,O00 was
spent for recreation during the last
year by 45S cities In this country, 53
cities having donated Fairgrounds and
18 Of the number placing the value
Of the property given ut $l,lS2,I ,I0O.
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
1854 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 pa of the
cities.
In an effort to obtain the fullest
possible report from the recreation
field, u questionable was sent out to
2,478 cities and towns In the United
States and Canada. Replies were re-
ceived from LILO Of the number. Many
cities which did not respond In any
way 20 the request for information
are known to be carrying on public
recrea tional activities In some form.
The fact that 5O2 cities report play
grounds and recreation centers main
tained under paid leadership during
the last year Is considered most en-
courag1ng by the association, repre-
sentiEG as It does satisfactory In
crease over 1920, when 485 cities 80
reported. The total of 1854 centers
also shows satisfactory growth. as
compared with the 4,293 reported last
year.
In addition to the 502 cities which
are carrying on recreational activities
under paid leadership, centers are
maintained In many other cities. as
,hown 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 50 cities,
Fifty-one cities initiated the work
during 1927, "a Of them wholly or part.
ly under municipal control. In add.
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 502 cities listed In the stats.
tical table Of the report, 68 show 147
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, 11.079, ex
ceeds the 1920 report by 86l. or the
number. 5,1S1 were men and 5.S9s
Tomen.
AS the number Of trained workers
In this field is growing steadily, train.
ing classes for them, whether en-
ployed or volunteer. are being estals
lIshed In a growing number Of cities
There were "a cities conducting such
training classes inr1921. with an en-.
rollment in 80 of these cities of 1880
Training classes for volunteer work
ers were conducted In 80 cities, as
compared with nine In 1920, and 81
Of them reported an enrolment oi
1890 students. A marked improvement
is shown in the number of cities re
quiring civil service examinations TO,
recreation positions in 1921, this being
Il. a. against 20 IN 1920