USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1926 > Part 22
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60
Court
10 Stone ave. Northwesterly
Private.
20
113
Court
Windsor st. ex. E'ly and W'ly
Private.
20
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370
Court
Washington ave Franklin st.
Private.
6
95
Court
Irvington rd. Total
Boston ave.
Private.
20
157
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468,874
58,875
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171
Court
35 Lexingtonave Northerly
Private.
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75
8
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Public, 83.802 miles [includes 1.406 miles of City Boulevard and Park Roadways, 2.331 miles of State Boulevard (Metropolitan Park Commission), and 0.97 miles State Highway]; private 13.044.
Total length of streets in the city, 101.846 miles.
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
PUBLIC WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION 1926
EDWARD A. BREWER
Chairman
MRS. SOPHIE C. BATEMAN
Vice-Chairman
MEMBERS
Term Expires January
EDWARD A. BREWER
1928
MRS. PEARL L. CALDWELL
1928
CHARLES S. CLARK
1928
MISS MARY M. McGANN
1928
MRS. JENNIE E. STOWELL
1928
ERNEST W. BAILEY
1927
MRS. SOPHIE C. BATEMAN
1927
WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE
1927
DR. WINNIFRED P. DAVIS 1927
GEORGE H. EVANS
1927
FRANCIS J. MAHONEY
Secretary to the Commission
348
ANNUAL REPORTS
CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
February 1, 1927.
To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :-
The Public Welfare and Recreation Commission submits this report of work accomplished during the year 1926 calling particular attention to its recommendations for the year 1927 as the second twelve month period of the proposed five year program.
There was appropriated for the Commission's work for 1926, $10,000, a sum $2,000 in excess of the appropriation for 1925; and certain increases were allotted to the Building Com- missioner and the City Engineer. These increases were used as far as possible to carry out in a small degree a part of the improvements recommended in our five year program.
The Director's report for 1926 is appended and the rec- ommendations therein for 1927 are strongly urged by the Commission.
This Commission recommends that a sufficient sum of money be approprated to the Commissioner of Buildings to complete the resurfacing of those school yards which are in poor condition. Being obliged to carry on many playground ac- tivities in these school yards the Commission makes this recom- mendation with a real knowledge of its necessity.
In like manner does the Commission urge and recommend that a definite increase be allowed to the City Engineer for the purpose :-
1. Of resurfacing park playgrounds where necessary.
2. Of planting shade trees on these playgrounds now not so provided adequately.
3. Of constructing and properly maintaining of a suf- ficient number of hockey rinks on the playgrounds to meet the demand therefor during the winter months.
4. Of erecting suitable field houses with shower-baths on the larger playgrounds.
Additional to the suggested appropriations to those de- partments which control and handle the Tools of Recreation, the year 1927 calls for definite increased expenditures by this Commission :-
1. For renewal of equipment on many playgrounds.
2. For the purchase of much-needed new equipment.
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
3. That the Supervisory force be increased commensu- rate with the increase of playground attendance.
Further, as indicated in the Commission Report for 1925 and under Item 3 therein of the suggested five year program this Commission recommends adequate facilities for wading in Lincoln Park and on Trum Field, and bubble fountains on all playgrounds.
The Commission reports with pleasure the greatly in- creased use of the playground on the northeasterly end of Saxton Foss Park, as rearranged and started by the City Engi- neer and recommends its early completion.
Another undertaking recommended by this Commission as a part of the five-year program has been partly carried out. The City Engineer has completed an outdoor running track adjacent to the Field House for Dilboy and Somerville Fields. In this connection the Commission urges that the City Engi- neer be provided with funds to triple the use of this track in accordance with his plans; to waterproof the bowl, thus al- lowing its use in Summer for a wading pool and affording a high grade hockey rink in Winter. If completed, this sug- gested hockey rink would have a larger skating surface than the Boston Arena.
There remains before the Commission the rapidly grow- ing need for more playground space, suitably equipped and adequately conditioned, and immediate provision therefor is recommended, that the children of this City may play in safety from the increasing dangers of the public streets. The com- pletion of the Northern Artery and plans for the future use of land now used for a playground on and about Joy St. makes necessary a larger play area thereabout and such area is available in the section by enlarging of the present Glen St. Playground. Appropriation is urgently recommended for the purchase of sufficient land adjacent to the City-owned land at Glen and Oliver Sts., or in other suitable location to meet this need.
The end of the year 1926 shows that a start has been made on the five year program and referring to the recommen- dations of the Commission in 1925 as itemized, the Commission is pleased to report :-
Item 1. The work of resurfacing the school yards has been begun.
Item 2. The equipment of all playground areas with suitable permanent equipment and apparatus is again recom- mended for action.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Item 3. Suitable provision for wading pools and drink- ing fountains is again recommended.
Item 4. One of the proposed running tracks has been completed. The construction of the second at Lincoln Park is recommended.
Item 5. The playground at Saxton Foss Park has been commenced. Its completion in accordance with the plans by the City Engineer is urged.
Item 6. Provision for a Public Bath House and suitable bathing beach on the Mystic River has been made and its completion in a proper manner is strongly recommended.
An additional recommendation which the Commission feels most necessary to insure to the children of the City further security; and to provide the City's property with needed protection, in that a motorcycle police officer be de- tailed during the playground season for the sole purpose of patrolling the playgrounds and public parks.
The Commission believes that the continuance of the plans for progressive improvement has the approval of citizens generally and asks further careful consideration of His Honor the Mayor and the Honorable the Board of Aldermen, as well as the support of those to whom the suggested improvements will bring benefit and enjoyment.
Respectfully submitted for the Commission,
EDWARD A. BREWER,
Chairman.
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REPORT OF DIRECTOR
To the Public Welfare and Recreation Commission :
Following annual custom, I submit to your Commission the report of the work assigned by the Commission to my su- pervision for the year 1926. The purpose of this report is to recount the accomplishments of the past year; to mention and recommend provisions which, in my judgment, are neces- sary or highly desirable for the future success of the Recrea- tion work; and to present suggestions and information which may assist your Commission in elaborating its program for pursuit of the objectives of the Public Welfare and Recrea- tion Commission.
It seems wise, in presenting this report, to give separate consideration to the various branches of the Recreation work. They include-
I. The Summer Playgrounds.
II. The Spring-and-Fall Supervised Athletics.
III. The Saturday Playgrounds for Small Children.
IV. Evening Adult Recreation Centers.
V. The Preserving and Canning Activities of School Children.
VI. The Recreation Activities Involving the General Public.
Summer Playgrounds Expansion of Summer Playground Work
In pursuance of the policy of gradual expansion, which had been followed in 1924, and 1925, the operations of the Summer Playgrounds have been extended in 1926 by addition of new units under supervision, and by additions to the super- visory corps, calculated to intensify activity in the previously operated units. As a result, the work under the Commission has come nearer than ever to the desired end of serving every part of Somerville. During the short Summer period of seven. weeks, at least, there now remain only a few sections of the City where children of 14 years and over are denied the opportunity of some play facilities and trained leadership. For younger children, who are not expected to travel so far, and who require less extensive play spaces, the facilities have
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ANNUAL REPORTS
also approached a step nearer to the desirable end, though there is still great need for expansion in this field.
It is to be noted, however, that this expansion represents merely a geographical spread in the system, meeting in no way the great need of improved facilities in the districts where your Commission has operated for several years past.
Eighteen areas were used for supervised play activities during the past Summer. Twenty-one units were conducted, however, some of these areas having separate units for boys and girls. The various units are named as follows, and the names suggest the areas utilized :
Bennett School Ground
(for girls) (for boys)
George Dilboy Field
Saxton C. Foss Park Girls' Playground
Saxton C. Foss Park Boys' Playground
Glen St. Boys' Playground
Glen St. Girls' Playground
Hodgkins School Grounds (for girls)
John M. Woods (Cherry St.) Playground
(for girls and boys) (for boys)
Joy St. Playground
Kent Street Boys' Playground
Kent Street Girls' Playground
Lincoln Park (for boys) (for girls.and boys)
Morse School Grounds
Nathan Tufts (Powder House Park)
(for girls and boys)
Northeastern Jr. High School Grounds (for girls and boys) Perry School Grounds (for girls)
Richard Trum Boys' Playground
Richard Trum Girls' Playground
Southern Jr. High School Grounds
(for girls and boys)
Tufts College Old Campus
(for girls)
Western Playground
(for boys)
(At Western Junior High School Grounds)
Four of these areas were new this past year to the Sum- mer supervised organization :- those at Southern Jr. High School Grounds, Northeastern Jr. High School Grounds, John M. Woods Playground and Nathan Tufts Park.
Three of them have, in the Director's judgment, been operated with complete success, and the John M. Woods Play- ground with lesser immediate results. At another point in this report the foregoing statement will be amplified and ex- plained. The most successful, as judged by attendance, ac- tivity and accomplishment in the matter of meeting actual needs, was the unit at Nathan Tufts (Powder House) Park.
The addition of the two units at Southern and North- eastern Junior High School grounds was accompanied by the elimination of full-time supervision at Central Hill Park, for which these two units were substituted. Experience of pre-
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
vious seasons had showed that on both the northerly and southerly sides of Central Hill many children were not utiliz- ing the playground opportunities at Central Hill Park be- cause of two difficulties :- (1) The steep climb to the hill-top. and (2) the scarcity of level play area on the Park. The sub- stitute arrangement this Summer resulted in a combined average attendance, at the two new units, twice as great as. the former Central Hill attendance; and a check-up showed that the children who formerly frequented the Central Hill Playground took advantage of one or the other of the substi- tutes.
Closely connected with the change just mentioned is: another forward step in regard to the Summer system. Formerly the combined girls-and-boys units at the Morse School Grounds and Central Hill Park had been supervised by young women only. This arrangement, combined with the fact that neither of these areas is favorable to active games for older boys (such as baseball, track and field athletics),. had tended to place the emphasis on activities for girls and very small boys. It had tended also to a discontented and sometimes unfavorable attitude of boys towards these play- grounds, with consequent discomfiture and loss of attendance among girls. In 1926 a man supervisor was added to super- vise the activities of boys at the Southern and Morse units jointly. Through his leadership boys of both sections were encouraged to organize their teams, etc. on the small play centers, but to travel to the larger areas, (Lincoln Park, Foss Park, etc.) for their athletic activities. Thus teams repre- senting these areas were added to each of the inter-playground leagues and boys from these centers were active in other in- ter-playground athletics. This arrangement reacted on the other boys' playgrounds, where boys were thus provided with greater variety and increased competition in inter-playground activities. Another result was the more favorable conditions for girls' and small boys' play at the Southern and Morse units themselves, where the older boys became more coopera- tive and solicitous for the girls and small boys. It is interest- ing to note here that boys from the Morse and Southern units captured one of the championships in one of the three baseball leagues ; that the boys from the same grounds won the "Sportsmanship" trophy in another league; and that these playgrounds figured very prominently in the scoring at the final inter-playground track meet.
Another item of importance to the expansion of the past Summer's activities is the changing from park to playground of a portion of Saxton C. Foss Park. Under the City Engi-
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ANNUAL REPORTS
neer's department, the removal of trees, leveling of surface, and construction of a baseball field had been commenced ; and this work, though not yet completed, was a great impetus to active play. There was a noticeable effect on the daily at- tendance at the Playground.
The John M. Woods Playground presented the great difficulties (a) that the surface of the land was (and still is) in no condition for play ; (b) that there is a complete absence of shelter, either natural or artificial; and (c) that untimely illness of young women supervisors impeded the acquisition of that expert knowledge of the children and locality which naturally must be gained when a new unit is launched. The Director respectfully submits that the conditions at this Center called for a man supervisor in addition to the young women supervisors.
Supervision
Thirty-two persons including the Director were em- ployed in the supervision of the Summer play. Of this num- ber, twenty-six were assigned to individual playgrounds; two acted as special supervisors of folk dancing; one as supervisor of handwork ; one as special leader of inter-playground athle- tics for boys; and one has been mentioned as assigned to special work of leadership among Morse and Southern Junior High School playground boys jointly.
All but three of the supervisors were residents of Somer- ville. All of the three non-residents were specialists, specially trained, for whose positions no trained Somerville applicant could be found in spite of thorough investigation.
New problems in organizing the supervisory corps, gradu- ally presenting themselves previously, have now become major problems of the whole undertaking, as a result of the increased number of playgrounds and the increased number of children under supervision.
During 1924, 1925 and 1926 the number of Summer units has increased from eleven to twenty-one, and the number of children under supervision has increased about sixty per cent. Direct superintendence, by the Director, of individual super- visors' work among their own groups of children is more diffi- cult. Administrative problems are larger and more compli- cated. Special supervision for special activities can no longer be delegated to part-time specialists, but requires full-time special supervision. Any progress, and in fact maintenance of present efficiency, urgently demands.
(a) Employment of Assistants to the Director, who
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
shall not be attached to any given playground in particular.
(b) Increased provision for inter-playground visitation and transportation of supplies.
(c) Increased provision for expense of coordinating supervision through central headquarters.
(d) Employment of additional persons to assist in su- pervision on larger units,-Lincoln Park, Foss Park, Glen Street.
Attendance
Attendance has been high and regular at all the play- grounds, with a significant uniformity throughout each week and throughout the season on any given playground. The City-wide aggregate attendance this season, partly because of the increased number of play units, was greater than that of the 1925 season by about twelve per cent; and the same is true of the average daily attendance. Most noticeable in in- creased attendance among the older playgrounds were the Saxton C. Foss, Joy St., and Dilboy Field Playgrounds.
New and Enlarged Activities
Certain branches of playground activity were stressed more during the Summer Season of 1926 than formerly; and certain new forms of activity successfully introduced, which had previously been contemplated and desired. These addi- tions and extensions were made possible largely because of the increase in the Commission's financial resources, and part- ly because of public-spirited action of private citizens, whose financial contributions made it possible to obtain certain long desired equipment. In the following three paragraphs these extensions and additions in playground activity are reported.
INTER-PLAYGROUND BASEBALL. Greater enthusiasm than ever before was achieved in the three inter-playground baseball leagues ; and each league was larger in membership, by two teams, than ever before. These results were effected by the following three factors :- (1) the participation of the teams representing the Southern Junior High School and Morse Playgrounds under the special arrangement reported above under the caption "Expansion of Summer Playground Work"; (2) the assignment of special leader in boys' inter- playground athletics; and (3) the publicly advertised offering of awards in each of the three leagues for both championship teams and "best-sportmanship" teams. The latter group of
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ANNUAL REPORTS
trophies were provided by donation by the Somerville Rotary Club; and were especially effective in the work.
INTER-PLAYGROUND ATHLETICS. In field and track athletics for boys, added impetus came, both to regular play- ground activity and to inter-playground competition, from the newly-provided low hurdles which made possible an en- tirely new athletic activity and an added event in each "class" in the various athletic meets. These hurdles affected play- ground activity and attendance in several ways quite aside from their primary purpose. The particular activity which they represent is spectacular, and their daily use proved to be a means of attracting increased attention to the playgrounds on the part of children, with a corresponding effect on more frequent attendance. These hurdles were the gift of a group of Somerville citizens :- George W. O'Brien, William F. Ennis, John F. McGann, Dr. Eugene F. Maguire, John J. Hayes, Esq. and William J. Sullivan.
SPECIAL INTER-PLAYGROUND EVENTS. Two custom- ary inter-playground events were especially productive of the- objects for which they are respectively intended :- The Play Festival or Demonstration of Supervised Play, and the Final Inter-playground Athletic Meet. The latter was better at- tended than previously and more spirited because of the en- couragement given the children by the interest and presence of the City Government and City Officials,-including that of the Acting Mayor and many of the Aldermen. The Play Festival this year had not less than four thousand children, all regular frequenters of the supervised centers, in actual participation, and about seven thousand spectators.
Finances
The total expenditures from the City Treasury for the Summer Playgrounds program under your Commission was $4886.93. Of this amount the expense of the supervision was $3106.00, not including salary paid to the Director during the Summer, which is elsewhere included as a part of the all-year item of Director's salary ; for supplies, maintenance and labor, $1,790.90.
Recommendations-Summer Playgrounds
Based on thoughtful study and fourteen years of inti- mate experience with the playground situation in Somerville, recommendations for the future, dealing most especially with
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
the Summer season are included, later in this report, in a series if recommendations covering the general Recreation work of the entire pear. Attention is here directed to the Summer Playgrounds recommendations.
Saturday and Afternoon Playgrounds
Conduct of supervised play on Saturdays is calculated specifically to encourage active play of children under eleven years of age. Still further expansion of the supervised play plan, a program of after-school supervised athletics, aims to serve the older boys and girls,-those of the Junior High School and High School age.
For details of the work in this branch, reference is made to the 1924 report.
For outlining the methods, the activities, and the results in both these fields, it is well to emphasize the distinctive characteristics of each of these activities as they are to be differentiated from each other and from the Summer activities.
Specific Objectives
In the Saturday Playgrounds supervision :
(1) The "Neighborhood Playgrounds" idea is empha- sized, as expressed in the selection of smaller and less pretentious play areas, close to the homes of the children of districts somewhat limited in area, rather than the larger play centers, such as the public parks, which are intended to serve larger districts.
(2) Special emphasis is given to the attempt to interest and provide activity for smaller children-those below eleven years of age.
In the After-School supervised athletics :
(1) More active and less varied organized games, adapted to play by older boys and girls are en- couraged.
(2) The larger areas, intended to serve larger districts, are operated ; and fewer units have therefore been organized.
Saturday Playgrounds
The number of areas under supervision on Saturdays has been increased from five to ten during 1926, and the super-
-
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ANNUAL REPORTS
visory corps has been increased from eight to nineteen persons besides the Director. These extensions have been made not all at the same time, but gradually, in pursuance of the pre- vious policy of gradual development. This extension is one of the major results of the increased appropriation for 1926.
The additional supervision is at the following places :- Kent Street Playground (start made in April), Bingham School Grounds (October), Southern Junior High School Grounds (November), and Brown School Yard (October).
The results in each place have demonstrated the need that had long existed for utilization of these areas and for play leadership there on Saturdays. The Bingham School yard results are especially noteworthy. The attendance there has far exceeded that at any of the other units. This district has an exceptionally large child population, and the Saturday opportunities there have introduced to supervised play, several scores of children not hitherto reached by any part of the work-including the Summer work of your Commission.
In the judgment of the Director, the experiment at the Bingham grounds has demonstrated that a change is called for in the Summer organization as it affects this particular section. Careful study and comparison of attendance here with attendance at the girls'-and-small-boys' unit at Trum Field in the Summer season (Trum Field is the only Summer Playground within three fourths of a mile from the Bingham School) shows that the great majority of girls and small boys will frequent, under supervision, the Bingham, but will not frequent Trum. The Director concludes, that a small chil- dren's playground is needed in the Lowell St .- Albion St .- Vernon St. section, which will be attractive to girls and small boys and which will leave Trum Field as an Athletic Field where older boys and young men will be segregated. The Bingham School yard, however, because of its very small size, and ill-adapted shape and surface, and because of other rea- sons, is not suitable for a playground. There are available, in proximity to it, several suitable areas of private land, which the Director urges upon the Commission as desirable for playground purposes.
By the additions, mentioned above, to the Saturday play- grounds organization, a very considerable advance has been made towards realization of the plan, recommended in the Director's Report of 1925, of serving every part of the City in this work. Its still further advancement would, in the Di- rector's judgment be a great service to the City.
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WELFARE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Afternoon Supervision
GROWTH. Increasing from two to three afternoons each week the afterschool supervision of athletic activities for boys and girls of High and Junior High School age, during nineteen weeks of Spring and Fall seasons, is another outstanding part of the advance made in your Commission's work during the past year, and another of the major results of the increase in funds available.
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