The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-08-28
CITY'S
PLAY SYSTEM
City Palmer Bartholomew
Commends City's Recre-
ational System.
IS BETTER THAN PAR
Declares Every Cent of Invest
ment Is Bringing Better Re-
turns Than Hoped For.

Harland Bartholomew, Kenosha's city
planner, in preliminary report on the
city's recreational facilities just sub
mitted to the city planning commits
sion, has great many things to say
about the city's part in providing play
grounds, community centers and "romp-
ing" places for the citizens of the
city.
"The city of Kenosha Is one of che
few cities that appreciate the value
of balanced, all-year recreation pro-
gram" says Bartholomew. "The full
significance of this fact should be un-
derstood. 1t means that the munich
pality not only buys parks and play
grounds and other recreation fac1li-
ties and maintains them, as great
many cities do, but in addition sup
ports recreation department to show
the people of the city how to make the
most effective use of these facilities.
By this means the municipality secures
adequate returns from it's park and
playground investments. The basebeH
diamonds are kept in use, tennis courts
are in demand, the lawns of the parks
are overrun by children ct play. The
purposes for which the taxpayers mon
ey was spent when these areas were
purchased are being realized fully.
1t is one thing for city to buy recrea-
ton facilities and another to learn to
use them. ~
Comments on Activities.
at is instructive to review the ac-
tivities and accomplishments Of the
recreation staff. They show at once
what parks and Fairgrounds can real
ly mean to city and offer convinc-
ing argument for the systematic ac-.
QUESTION and development of more
such facilities.
"In 1923 Kenosha's recreation &C
tivities were under the direction Of one
central authority, closely related to the
public school system. The sum Of the
S14,447, chiefly municipal appropria-
ton, was spent in this work. Recrea-
ton activities for all ages and classes
were fostered. 1t was the aim of the
staff to keep young and old interested
in wholesome games and sports and
social affairs throughout the entire
year. The record is all the more re-
markable when it is considered that
this movement in Kenosha is but two
years old.
During the season there were "a
teams playing regular baseball in six
leagues, all these teams being in uni
form furnished by merchants and citi-
zens interested in the sport Play
ground ball was played by Is teams in
two leagues In the public and private
schools during school terms, 4,67O boys
and girls played regularly on organ
lied teams of various sports.
'In the fall, soccer and regular foot
ball leagues were formed among boys;
the girls played liberty ball. A bust
ness mems gymnasium association used
the facilities of the schools. City-wide
social affairs like Halloween festi-
walls and Thanksgiving parties were ar
ranged.
"Winter sports and activities drew
forth a total of $4,000 between Nov.
| and April l. Folk dancing, story
telling, singing, basketball, indoor base
ball and skating enlisted the interest
of the school children. Adults had four
basketball leagues consisting OF 22
teams, all players in suits, three indoor
baseball leagues of 16 teams playing
a regular series of games. Skating
was provided for on three Kinks.
In Three Districts.
Recreation centers were opened five
nights week in three districts, COM
plete program Of activities being of
fered at each center. The average
daily attendance of these recreation
centers was 1856.
"The playground and community CEN
ter attendance record of Kenosha re-
veals fully the wide popularity of the
recreation movement. On the basis of
the cost of supervision, which is large
ly possible for the city's splendid show
ing, Kenosha is getting well above the
average returns from its recreation in
vestment. The money spent in Kenosha
is reaching larger numbers than In
many other cities.
"The achievements of the recreation
department, however, would not have
been possible without proper support
from all city agencies in charge Of
facilities which could be used for recre-
ton. The school board opened the
school buildings for community uses,
equipped and turned over Fairgrounds
and provided the construction of skat-
ing ponds on its property.
@The Park department redesigned and
rebuilt several parks for more effective
use. concentrating the facilities for
active play, relieving and improving
those sections of the parks best suited
to normal park uses. There was
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