The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-09-11
SUGGESTS MORE
PLAY FACILITIES
City Palmer Outlines Plan
for More Effective Rec
reation System.
SHORTAGE AT PRESENT
Points Out Economical Ways
and Means for Securing Ad-
ditional Area in City.

What Kenosha needs in the way of
additional recreation facilities makes
UP large portion of report prepared
by City Palmer Harland Bartholomew,
just submitted to the city planning
commission. The report goes into con-
siderable detail in every phase of play
and recreation for which the city is
responsible to the community.
Based upon experiences to date the
recreation staff of the city lists the
following present needs, according to
Bartholomew:
8 additional baseball diamonds.
1 football field.
8 municipal swimming pools.
10 tennis courts.
wading pools.
modern sand piles.
: "The above list" declares Barthol-
omew, represents shortage of facili-
ties for the Kenosha of today, with it's
$4,000 population. The interest in rec
reation aroused would be sufficient, ac-
cording to the authorities, to keep all
the above items in constant use during
the season. This is an indication of
the problem before Kenosha if the mu-
nicipality wishes to make further in
vestments in community health and
well-being through the development of
recreation facilities.
Fairgrounds with Schools.
"Kenosha has already had consider
able experience in the development of
school and park Fairgrounds. In 1928
y inh he nj GET
fed as Fairgrounds in the recreation
system, the supervision of play activf-
ties being in charge of the recreation
division of the public schools. The
city has taken very commendable
step in centering playground activi-
ties in the schools. 1t is avoiding the
duplication of effort which is common
elsewhere.
"The proper placing of elementary
schools and the purchase of five acre
school sites in the future will provide
sp1endidly for the extension of the
system of educational recreational
centers for children.
"Such centers may be expected at the
following sites:
''The north end Of the Bonnie Hame
tract.
"The new site on South Rowland
avenue.
"The new site on Park avenue south
of Selma.
High School Play Field.
"The central location of the new sem
Tor high school prevents the develop
ment of play field nearby. The loss
of recreational space is one of the pen
alties always paid for the advantages
of such a location. In Kenosha, how
ever, it will not be impossible to pro-
vide the central high school with a
suitable recreational field if the city
will cooperate by fastening the filing
of Eichelman park. This area which is.
only few blocks distant from the high
schools holds splendid opportunities
for genuine recreational service and
should be made available for use as
soon as possible. A complete athletic
field and stadium should be planned
for this park.
"The public schools of Kenosha are
serving as community centers. With
commendable willingness the board OF
education has agreed to the use Of its
property for such purposes. The new
er schools have been designed for out
of-school activities and in the future
should become very valuable features
of the system of recreation facilities.
"There is one district, however,
which is seriously in need of first
class community center and this need
can best be met by the construction of
a community center building in Column
bus park 1t is strongly recommended
that Columbus park be redesigned and
rebuilt so that it may serve with great
er effectiveness all the recreational
needs of the populous neighborhood
which surrounds it. Columbus park
should be at once the site of a modern
community center building, play
field, a play ground and quiet rest
park. In future years the city should
acquire the remainder Of the block on
which this park is located.
'There is one new park need in Ke-
nosha that stands out above all others.
That is for the reservation of more
lake frontage. The time will soon
come. if it has not already arrived,
when available property on the lake
will be at premium. Unless the city
moves immediately to save some of this
priceless land the future city is going
to be without suitable access to. the
lake. There is just one way to avoid
the mistake which has been made. in
the communities Immediately north of
Chicago-that is to reserve lake front
parks now.
"There are no words available to
express the sense of obligation which
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