The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-29
Harland Bartholomew Surveys
RecreationaI Facilities.
Public Dance Halls, Pool Rooms
and Movies in Lead,
REPORT TO PLANNING BOARD
Urges Topeka to Provide Better
Parks and Fairgrounds.
Should Provide RecreatiOnaI
Needs for All Glasses in City.

Public dance halls. pool rooms and
movies thrive upon the recreational
desires of a certain class of Topeka's
population, according to Harland
Bartholomew. city plan engineer of
the Topeka city planning board. 1t
Is a common fault of cities to be with
out public recreational facilities to
compete in attraction with these COM
mercialized indoor resorts, Mr.. Bar
tholomew says.
Unless the city makes a special ef-
fort TO provide recreational facilities
for this class of citizens. the greater
part OF their leisure time will be spent
In these indoor resorts. he declares.
The class affected are high school
boys and girls and the young unmar-
ried working people.
The measure in which dance halls.
pool rooms and cheap movies contrib
ute to the delinquency of the younger
generation is tho exact measure in
which the city as a whole contributes
to their delinquency for not providing
proper and wholesome recreational
facilities. says Bartholomew.
Bartholomew statements are con-
tanned IN lis preliminary report of.
recreatfonal facilities and parks sub
mitted to the. Topeka planning board.
He Indicate that the proper method
to be used by thinking citizens to
overcome youthful delinquency is not
by trying to regulate the dance halls,
pool rooms and cheap movies out of
competition with them and provide
wholesome outdoor recreational facili-
ties of such attractiveness that the
youth of the city will be drawn to-
ward wholesome recreation.
His report gives great credit to the
founders of the city for their .funda-
mental city plan, and he says the high
moral standard of the city is directly
due in a measure to the way in which
the city was laid out on spacious lines.
To Build Better City.
1.-The citizens of Topeka have al
ways been interested in building a
more attractive and praiseworthy
city" says Mr.. Bartholomew. while
the state of Kansas was suffering
from the terrors of border ruffianisn,
the founders of Topeka were planning
wide. straight dignified avenues. The
standards of land subdivision, -estab-
nshed in the early days, have gener-
ally persisted. The Topeka of today
as q consequence is free from the
congestion which characterizes cities
planned on less generous lines. The
men who established the character of
the young city also appreciated the
service of trees in urban communities.
Early in its history the streets of To-
peka were uniformly planted with
oaks naples, elms and other perma-
nent species.
''The saIutary effect of these fea-
lures, the wide streets, the large lots,
trees and the absence of congestion
OF Topeka has undoubtedly contrib
uted to the maintenance of the city's
record in public health and welfare.
Fresh air and sunlight freely invade
every section. The squalor. filth and
vice of the congested centers of the
east are nowhere in evidence. 1t may
safely be said that the physical struc-
ture of Topeka contributes notably to
higher standards of community life"
A TNvo-Fold Plan.
In the general nlau for the devotion
ment of the city park and recreation |
facilities system Mr. Bartholomew
points out a two-fOld object which the 1
citizens OF Topeka must ever keep in |
mind in carrying out this develop |
ment.
Topeka. like every other city. faces
the problem of providing space. and |
equipment TO satisfy the vital needs of /
it's citizens" Mr.. Bartholomew states |
Parks and Fairgrounds consequently |
are to be Incorporated in the structure |
of the city because they are necessities.
1t Is an established principle among |
progressive communities that the pro-
vision of recreation facilities is fully |
as urgent and as advantageous as the /
construction of sewers and the laying /
of pavements. Investment in play |
areas and buildings is an investment |
IN public health, happiness and social |
well being. Topeka's obligation in /
this respect is clear.
But Topeka also is the capital, the |
governmental center of great state
Its official position places it in the /
forefront of other cities of Kansas. |
The manner in which the physical
structure of Topeka exemplifies this
prominence is of interest to all KAN
sans. The city has an additional obI- Il
cation. therefore, to develop those /
pleasure grounds and embellishments
which will undeniably mark 1t as the /
capital"
A Recreational Plan.
L.
and recreational plan embraces COM
plete recreational facilities for every /
class of citizens. for every part of the /
city, yet the whole plan is so con-
ceiYed that the natural great outlying
parks are connected with a series of |
parkways and boulevards into a well !
organized system. with inner rings of
neighborhood parks and community
eenters and a sufficient number of
school Fairgrounds. 1t is designed to
care for Topeka of 1850 and the even
greater Topeka which will ultimately
develop from the present city.
Parks and related areas devoted to
public recreation should fulfill certain
fundamental requirements" says Mr..
Bartholomew. the city pianner. In
the first place all facilities should con-
stitute co-ordinated system. This
system should be designed and built
TO satisfy the recreational needs of
every class in the city. In Topeka the
may be classified in three
distinct groups, fo- each of which the
activities and needs are
The first class is the school group.
In this class are the children of the
school age. For a great majority of
this class, Mr.. Bartholomew says. play
Is a highly significant form OF educa-
ton. The proper direction and ac-
commodation of these spontaneous
impulses is fully as important. he says,
as the conduct of classroom exercises
inside the school buildings Yet the
tendency OF the city in its growth Is
TO forbid and restrict the play of chill
dren.
For High School Pupils. Il
The second class is the group of