The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-31
3SFROLIC LOTS
CLOSE SEASONS
PLAY SATURDAY
Recreation Director Reviews
Programs Carried on
at Fairgrounds.
BY JESSE P. MCCLURE
City Recreation Director

BY JESSE p. MCCLURE
City Recreation Director
The Indianapolis playground sea-
son of the city recreation depart
ment closes Saturday at thirty
three of the forty-five centers fol-
lowing a three-months program.
Because of increased popularity
of Fairgrounds this year, the de-
partment has found it necessary to
recommend the opening of twelve
Fairgrounds during September.
Those probably to be opened are:
Riverside, Douglas, Rhodius, Fall
Creek at College Ave-, Brookside,
Brightwood, Willard, Christian, Ell
lenberger, Garfield, Greer and
Riley.
The recreation department has
been faced with many problems
this year. Human nature some
times is peculiar, and when the de-
partment can cope with it and
draw out the best in child, we
feel that something good has been
accomplished.
Safety Is Stressed
Safety is another problem. Many
youngsters have no yard at home
in which to play, and they are
forced into the street. Play be-
comes dangerous, uninterestisng
and unhealthy. Our forty-fve CEN
tiers are so distributed that chill
dren in almost every section of In
dianapolis have one near at hand.
The child is given directed and
organized play in a clean and or
derby surrounding. Minor injuries,
certain to happen any place, are
treated Immediately by instructors.
Arrangements also are made to
treat more serious injuries. The
percentage of street accidents were
less this year than last because of
playground influence.
One of the major problems is
equipment. Only a small fund is
available to purchase new equip
menu, and rules must be enforced
on the children to preserve it. The
rules in themselves are educational,
however, and they tend to teach
the children to respect property.
Very Few Rules Made
Very few rules are made. The
children are not hampered, but are
rather protected by the rules in
their play and the equipment is
kept in good condition for longer
time.
This season the recreation de-
partment purchased 500 baseballs,
fifty volley balls, thirty baSketballs,
$50 bats and eight dozen tennis
balls.
The question of age has come to
our attention again this year. In
the past we have set sixteen as the
maximum age, but this year the
rule did not work. We found that
the older boys and girls liked to
join in the sports at the recreation
centers and provision has been
made to handle them. We found
it much better to have them there
than in pool rooms and question
able places.
Grouped by Ages
Activities for boys have been
greater this year under the direc-
ton of Robert Nipper and Lewis
Skinner, supervisors.
Activities and ages are:
Junior baseball, 10 years and
IL months; senior baseball, to Is
years and IL months; volley ball,
age unlimited; golf, 16 years and
under; tennis, age unlimited;
horse shoes, older boys and men;
track and field meet, to 16 years;
basketball racks, older boys.
Girls activities have been under
the direction of Miss Lola Pfeiger
and Miss Ruth Emhardt.
Baseball leagues, to 16 years and
6 months; volley ball, to Is years
and 6 months; track and field
meet, to IA years, and IA to 16
years and months.
OISdA1lAC
The pageantry department was
established under the direction of
Miss Hazel Albeit, a Technical
high school teacher. Sectional en-
tertainments were staged with a
grand finale at Garfield park last
week that included all city play
grounds.
Henry Long, supervisor, has as
sisted in the swimming. Several
water carnivals have been staged
at Mcclure Beach drawing 5000 to
10000 persons each night.
Swimming meets have been held
at Rhodius, Willard and Warfeigh
parks. Hundreds have been taught
to swim, more than $50 persons
being taught at Rhodius pool. Ages
range from 4 years to middle-aged
men and women.
Life Saving Taught
One day has been set aside each
week for life saving demonstrations
and instructions by the American
Red Cross. Many small children
have been taught the safety first
rules of the water by Francis
Hodges and D. Melville Carr of
the the Red Cross.
The real success of a playground
year is measured by attendance.
and this years mark has estab-
lished a record. Recognition should
be given the indianapolis Times
for its Playground Page. Interest
has been aroused and attention
conferred through news of play
grounds published on this weekly
page.
Plans now are being made for
the 1929 season of the city recrea-
ton department, and new features