USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1957 > Part 8
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ANNUAL REPORTS
an official new low in this respect, including the ringing of only one false alarm late in the evening.) As to special pro- grams in observance of the Fourth of July, no funds for this purpose are provided in the Commission's accounts, and it is not likely that they would be until priority had been first given to the day-in and day-out program, or what some recreation authorities call the "meat-and-potatoes" program, or to a lengthening of the Summer Playgrounds season, both of which alternatives are bound to bring benefits of more lasting value.
SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS
To make a thorough and honest report of the Summer Playgrounds season without indulging to some extent in a repetition of phrases and facts cited previously over a period of years is difficult. Many times such reports are just a matter of so many words because there is an obligation on the part of a responsible person to submit a report, and he is merely conforming to the requirement. However, the Com- mission believes that if there is a repetition of phrases or in some instances an overindulgence of optimism in this report- ing of the 1957 Summer Playgrounds season, it is because it feels there is justification for these.
With respect to leadership personnel there is nothing new to report that has not been stated previously. Suffice to say, all vacancies were filled prior to the start of the Summer sea- son. However, from opening day through the fifth week of the season there was need for replacements for various reasons. Without intending to underrate the quality of the new part- time male personnel, it is worthy of comment that the part-time female personnel continues to be of superior worth, which certainly justifies the screening given to all personnel before selection and recommendation for appointment. Perhaps one of the best examples of the excellence of the part-time female personnel is related to the female supervisory corps. With all due respect to the capable performances of Miss Elaine Cotter as General Supervisor and Miss Elinor Schofield as Special Supervisor For Folk Dancing, it is a great tribute to the depth of quality in this organization that we could reach down into the ranks and come up with Miss Josephine Fierro as General Supervisor and Miss Marilyn Flaherty as Special Supervisor For Folk Dancing to replace the two mentioned above when they announced their unexpected unavailability, without affecting the successful operation of the Summer program. Miss Fierro, Miss Flaherty, and Miss Nancy Robinson are especially deserv- ing of recognition for their excellent work of the past Summer
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season. (The position filled by Miss Robinson is one that re- quires a perfect performance to serve its intended purpose, and Miss Robinson gave just that.)
Whenever Summer Playgrounds in Somerville are men- tioned, there is usually simultaneous mention of the large number of children taking part in the day-in and day-out pro- gram. To simply report that the number was greater than at any time hitherto may sound like an exaggeration, but it does not begin to tell the story. Ideal weather conditions (there was not a single session lost in the eight-weeks season) and the rareness of hot spells is only part of the story. The true story lies in the completeness of the program and the quality of the leadership. There were a few problem units and there were other problems, but unqualifiedly the Superintendent reported that the past Summer season was the best in his thirty-one years of experience. Despite the condition of many of the areas, the Summer Playgrounds participation in Somerville will continue to be extensive as long as the program and personnel continue to be of the same high quality.
This report will not go into detail in relating the results of the Summer program but will feature only the highlights. There was a new high in participation in both the Inter-Play- ground Athletic Meet at Trum Field and "PLAY DAY" at Dilboy Stadium. Spectator interest in both events also reached a new peak. On August 9 at Boston Common, forty-eight boys and girls (twenty-five boys and twenty-three girls) represented the Somerville Playgrounds in the Junior Olympics conducted for the first time by the Boston Park Department, Station WBZ-TV, and the Massachusetts Recreation Association. Som- erville was the winner of this colorful event with a total of seventy points, while its nearest competitor, Boston, attained a total of only fifty points. More than twenty communities par- ticipated in this event. Somerville captured nine first places, six seconds, and seven thirds. Of the forty-eight boys and girls participating, thirty-four came home with trophies-a remark- able record of achievement. The following reprint from one of the Superintendent's Bulletins to Summer Workers described his feelings on the results of this event :-
"All members of the playgrounds corps, as well as the boy and girl participants, are to be compli- mented for the part they played in the 'PLAY- GROUND U. S. A.' program at Boston Common on August 9. Success in the Junior Olympic pro- gram, as well as an excellent Handcraft Display,
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could not have been possible without the 'behind the scenes' work so typical of our staff. All workers who participated in the July 29 tryouts are deserving of recognition. The Handcraft Dis- play was also a 'winner', as evidenced by the con- stant flow of persons who stopped at 'our' table out of curiosity, and left with nothing but praise. Meanwhile let us not lose sight of the fact that success in the events and an excellent Handcraft
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ANOTHER FIRST
Somerville is one of the few public recreation services in New England with an outdoor Twilight Basketball League. The Recreation Commission conducts not one but two such Leagues, and is considering a third one. Is it any wonder Somerville has a top Basket- ball rating?
Display would not have been possible had there not been the day-in and day-out program to at- tract the participants."
"Bicycle Safety Week" again warranted inclusion in the Summer Playgrounds program as again there was the largest number of participants to date, due largely to a new site being added for one of the preliminary rounds.
On four separate occasions our Summer Playgrounds pro- gram was televised on WBZ-TV (Puppet Show, "Playground
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U. S. A.", "Bicycle Safety Week", and the Inter-Playground Athletic Meet), and many favorable reports have been received as a result. In each instance the excellence of the organiza- tional aspects of the Commission's program was portrayed, as well as the superior quality of the personnel responsible for conducting the activities. Certainly to any observer, especially those familiar with the detailed preparation required in con- nection with each of these programs, the thoroughness of each presentation did not happen by accident. There are sidelights to each of the four, including human interest stories, that could fill several pages, but such are typical of the Commis- sion's work, and these instances are no exception.
Safety is one of the by-products of a Recreation program; hence one of the reasons for the establishment of "Bicycle Safety Week". How safe then are our Summer Playgrounds? Certainly with such an extensive program there must be a great number of accidents. On the contrary, considering the number of participants, accidents are very few. In fact, a new low in this respect was reached this past Summer season. There were only thirteen accidents, mostly of a minor nature. These thir- teen accidents occurred on ten units, which means that fifteen playgrounds were without any type of accident whatsoever. Additionally, during the period August 8 to August 21, not a single accident occurred. Five of the thirteen accidents were swing injuries, and every effort is being made to reduce the number of these injuries by replacing the present wooden seats with flexible rubber seats. However, this project is a long- range one, and will take a couple of years to complete. Each unit also has one baby swing, and these have become most popular with the very small children.
SATURDAY INDOOR CENTERS
The Saturday Indoor Centers program, conducted in the Bingham, Brown, Cummings, Cutler, Grimmons, Hodgkins, Knapp, and Prescott School buildings and in the Latta Memorial Pool Building, was completed on Saturday, March 16, after a season of eleven weeks. As has been reported many times pre- viously, few of the school buildings where this program is con- ducted have desirable facilities for this type of program. How- ever, with one exception, the attendance was generally favor- able. Conducting a program of this nature in buildings where the facilities leave much to be desired taxes the skills of the leadership personnel; and it is worthy of mention that, to their credit, not once during the entire season did the Commission
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receive a report from the school authorities regarding any incidents at the units as a result of this program.
ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUES
Perhaps the outstanding feature of the 1957 season in the Adult Softball Leagues was the excellent weather, which found the Leagues losing very few games due to rain or postponement. Some of the postponements were a result of the poor condition of Foss Park and the constant flood in left field which remained for several days after a storm. In some cases the games were transferred to another field, in others they were postponed. The fields in general, however, were in better condition than in any previous season, with the exception of Foss Park.
In the American League, Virgie's compiled an early-season lead which it maintained to finish just ahead of the D. A. V. Club for the championship by a half-game margin. Meanwhile the Wells and Dunne Clubs ended in third and fourth places, separated by one game, and with the fourth-place team only three games away from the League winner. In the play-offs, D. A. V. took the Class A City Championship, defeating Virgie's in the finals in two straight games.
In the National League, the Columbus Associates took an early lead but were edged out in the final two weeks by the Havican Club. Bella Pizzarettes finished third, while the Circle A. C., which started the first third of the season with nine defeats as against three wins, came on strong to tie for the fourth spot by the end of three-quarters of the season and then moved on to undisputed possession of this position in the clos- ing week. In the play-offs, the Havican Club defeated the Bella Pizzarettes and Circle A. C. in the finals, to add the Class B City Championship to their League championship.
Spectator interest in the Leagues this season did not reach the peak of the 1956 season, due probably to the loss of pitcher Phil Severino, who proved to be a great attraction the previous year. However, the games were well attended, and the compe- tition was fairly evenly matched, though the second-division teams of the American League proved quite inferior to the top four and therefore never posed a threat to the first-division teams, except in their final order in the standings.
In Tournament play, to determine who would represent Metropolitan Boston in the North Alantic Regional Tourna-
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ment , Somerville had two teams reach the Semi-Finals, and the Tourney was won by the D. A. V. This gave Somerville three Qualifying Tournament winners in the last five years, without even including the win of the D. A. V. team in the Metropolitan Boston Tournament, also within the five-year span.
SENIOR CITIZENS PROGRAM
On the first of May, 1957, a Senior Citizens Club was or- ganized by the Recreation Commission with the co-operation of the Y. M. C. A., which permitted use of its facilities for meetings and other activities of the group. The original plan to hold two sessions per week was changed to one session per week at the request of the members.
At the opening meeting, twenty-eight persons registered, and signified their intention of joining the group. By the first of June, the number of registered members had reached into the forties, with forty-five attending the first month's Anniversary Dinner. By the final meeting of the Spring, the membership had risen to over fifty, with sixty persons reg- istered as members and fifty or more attending the meetings.
The program during the Spring season ran along a sampler line; i. e., Card Parties, Guest Speakers, Movies, Social Recrea- tion, and an Anniversary Party. Additionally, instruction in flower-making, ceramics, and other crafts was given by Miss June DeCourcey and Miss Jane McCarthy, and proved to be of great interest to the members. In June the group held an outing at the Larz Anderson Estate, and the Brookline Recrea- tion Commission co-operated by permitting the use of their facilities. The members enjoyed the day very much, and all expressed their appreciation for the co-operation.
In order to keep the group together during the Summer months, plans were made to hold at least one monthly event during the Summer season. These events included trips to Baseball Games, an all-day outing to Nantasket Beach, and an- other all-day trip to the Brockton Fair. The two all-day activities were attended by forty and thirty-one members, respectively. For both the outing to the Larz Anderson Estate and the trip to the Brockton Fair, the Recreation Commission provided the transportation. For the trip to Nantasket, the group used the M. T. A. and the Wilson Boat Lines. On trips to the Baseball Games, Recreation Leaders with automobiles were assigned to transport members of the group to the game and back to their homes.
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During the Fall season, the group continued to grow in membership. In October, a weekly session in ceramics for this group was inaugurated in the Commission's Workshop, and is now an established part of the program. A Halloween Party was held in October at which a boiled dinner was served, and a costume party and Halloween games finished off the affair. In November a Thanksgiving Dinner and Party were held; and in December a Christmas Party closed the activities for the year, with the membership then reaching seventy-five.
The response of this group to the efforts of the Recreation Commission gives every indication that the group will continue
"THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING"
There is an axiom, "We don't stop playing when we grow old, we grow old when we stop playing." That's why the Commission's Senior Citizens Club seems to have found the formula for perpetual youth. Recreation plays a large part in their lives.
to grow and should before very long reach a membership of one hundred or more. Membership in the group had been closed in November until after the Christmas Party, but will be opened in early 1958 until a maximum of one hundred members has been reached. This maximum is dictated by facilities, leadership, and the type of program being used.
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The limited facilities available at the present time would make it difficult to operate and provide full enjoyment to a membership of more than one hundred persons. At present, too, the leadership personnel available is inadequate for the existing number, let alone expanding the program to the maximum. The type of program being used calls for groups to be formed in various parts of the City whenever facilities to house such a program and the necessary leadership can be found. The membership of this group would then be re- distributed into these localized groups to assist in building a strong local club.
FACILITIES
Proper indoor and outdoor facilities are ever a need. The athletic area facilities are in a state which permits their limited use only, and it is expected that future demands will be such that it will be impossible to take care of all requests unless present athletic areas are repaired and additional ones developed. The need for baseball diamonds is acute. And unlike another suburban community where the majority of the twenty-two school buildings used by the Public Recreation Service have gymnasiums (in addition to five recreation build- ings of their own), Somerville has gymnasiums only in the High School, Junior High Schools, and the new Healey School. Hence the vital need for at least one centrally located new recreation or community building. Pointing out the needs for both program and facilities is of no avail unless something is done about it.
The Commission could develop at length the need for such a new Community Recreation building (which should also be of sufficient proportions to provide for offices, meet- ing and conference rooms, and ample storage space), but it is attempting to make this report as digestible as possible in as brief a space as possible. Although the Superintendent has tried consistently to determine whether Federal or State funds are available for the construction of such a building, unfortu- nately at the present time they are not. The establishment of an all-purpose room in new school buildings (witness the extensive use being made of the all-purpose room in the new Healey School, which the Commission helped bring to accom- plishment) and proposed legislation by the Massachusetts Division of Youth Service may be of some benefit, but they could by no means fill the need for a Community Recreation building. As of the present, unless the Municipal authorities bring about such a construction, it does not appear that there will be any other source available for the construction of such a much-needed building.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations for further improvement of outdoor Recreation facilities in Somerville, as well as certain improvements with respect to public buildings, have already been forwarded by the Superintendent to the Commis- sioner of Public Works, and the Commission feels confident that every effort will be made to bring them to completion :-
1) CONWAY PLAYGROUND :-
Erection of a Backstop for Diamond #2.
An addition or suspension to the existing Backstop, to prevent balls from going into yards and break- ing windows of residents of Park St.
Heightening of Fence on Park St. side of Playground. Removal of two pipes (formerly net holders for ten- nis) in the Basketball area. (They are not used, and constitute a hazard to children playing in that area.)
2) LINCOLN PARK :-
Provision for a Bubbler on the smaller diamond on Perry St.
Permanent floor in the Storage Shed.
Shade areas over the Sand Boxes.
New Bleachers on Diamond #1.
Establishment of a Multi-Use area between Diamond #1. and Diamond #2.
3) TRUM FIELD :- -
Additional lights in Basketball Courts. Replacing of lights where required.
Erection of Portable Bleachers (3 to 5 tiers high) on Cedar St. side.
4) GLEN ST. PLAYGROUND :-
Replacing of lights where required.
5) SHAW PLAYGROUND :-
Resurfacing of entire area, and either removal of present "hot-topped" area in left field, or con- version to a multi-use area.
Restoration of drinking water facilities. (There was no drinking water during entire Summer season of 1957.)
6) WOODS PLAYGROUND :-
Removal of old black Swing Frame, replacing it with a horseshoe or shuffleboard court.
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7) HOLT-SULLIVAN PLAYGROUND :-
Establishment of a Multi-use area. Installation of Drinking Water facilities.
8) NORTHEASTERN PLAYGROUND :-
Barbed tops on fence surrounding the building should all be turned down.
9) CUTLER PLAYGROUND :-
Installation of cement Sand Box on lower level of Raymond Ave. side of playground.
10) NORTH ST. PLAYGROUND :-
Provision for a stoop at rear entrance, leading to Housing Project.
11) GRIMMONS PLAYGROUND :-
Some type of pipe constructed in the area of the ex- isting faucet attached to the building to eliminate present flooding of swing area. A new bubbler in the general area of the swing frame is prefer- able to the existing faucet.
12) CHOLERTON PLAYGROUND :-
Barbed tops on fence surrounding the building should all be turned down.
13) MYSTIC AVE. HOUSING PROJECT PLAYGROUND :- Installation of Drinking Water and Shower facilities. Establishment of a Multi-Use area.
Permanent storage facilities similar to those at Conway Playground.
Removal of the large rocks around the swing and sand box area.
14) WOODSTOCK ST. PLAYGROUND :-
Reduce the size of the opening at the Playground by the erection of a gate. (Present large opening, because of playground slope, presents a safety hazard.)
15) STONE PLACE PLAYGROUND :-
Resurfacing of entire area, and removal of bar in- stalled for seesaw, to make more room for play space.
16) Installation of Horseshoe Boxes at all athletic areas.
17) Construction of at least six heavy Picnic-type Tables to be placed at desirable play areas throughout the City. These tables would serve many purposes (Handcraft, table games, etc.).
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18) Planting of trees on all parks and playgrounds.
19) Continued efforts to bring about the development for play purposes of the area located on Lexington Avenue opposite the end of Hancock Street, for- merly the site of the Highland Railroad Station.
20) Establishment of a Summer schedule by the Highway or Engineering Divisions that would result in a periodic clean-up of the larger playgrounds.
21) Distribution of stationary barrels for refuse at all play areas throughout the City, especially during the Summer season.
22) SOUTHERN JR. HIGH SCHOOL :- Portable Basketball Backstops, with corresponding padding on front apron of stage.
23) WESTERN JR. HIGH SCHOOL :- Cages for Locker Room lights.
24) VOCATIONAL SCHOOL :-
Portable Basketball Backstops, with corresponding padding on front apron of stage.
25) 50 BOW STREET :-
Installation of several fluorescent lights in base- ment.
26) 50 BOW STREET (REAR) :-
Installation of several fluorescent lights in Work- shop. (In view of the extensive registration for Arts and Crafts groups for the 1957-1958 season, this should be done immediately, if possible.) New door for Workshop, not only for purposes of en- trance and egress, but also for safety reasons.
In closing, the Commission gratefully acknowledges the co-operation during 1957 of His Honor The Mayor; the Board of Aldermen; the Public Works Commissioner and the Depart- ment of Public Works, including the Engineering, Public Build- ings, Highway, and Electrical Divisions; the Fire and Police Departments; and the Metropolitan District Commission; and acknowledges especially the co-operation of the Superintend- ent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent, the Masters of the Senior High and Junior High Schools, and the Supervising Principals and Teachers of the Elementary Schools.
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Separate acknowledgment is made of the many co-operative services rendered this Commission by the Principal and Teach- ers of the Trade High and Vocational School in the construction of playground and recreation equipment, electrical work, print- ing, and other specialized services which not only represent a saving of dollars and cents to the City, but also a guaranteed quality of work.
Appreciation is expressed also to the various churches and members of the clergy, and to Veteran, Service, and Social
GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES
The above scene is not what it seems. The girls are not going around in circles, neither are they sitting down on the job. Youth cries for action, and these girls use up plenty of surplus energy at the Commission's Teen-Age Girls' Gymnasium Program.
organizations of the City for their co-operation during the past year.
Deserved recognition is also given to the "SOMERVILLE JOURNAL-PRESS" and to the Somerville Edition of the "BOSTON AMERICAN" for the excellent coverage given the Commission's program and activities throughout the year. Al- though the "satisfied customer" (namely, the participant) is commonly accepted as one of the best means of publicizing
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ANNUAL REPORTS
an activity, without the continuous and accurate presentation to the public of the recreational opportunities available to them via these two excellent media, the response to, and rec- ognition of, the Commission's program would be substantially reduced.
Appended to this Report is the Financial Summary for the year 1957 and a list of Activities Under the Recreation Com- mission.
Respectfully submitted by
THE RECREATION COMMISSION, BY REV. N. PROPERZI, Chairman
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City of Somerville, Recreation Commission FINANCIAL SUMMARY, 1957
ANNUAL APPROPRIATION (April 1)
$90,264.50
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION (April 17)
3,000.00
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS
$93,264.50
TRANSFER TO D.P.W. ORDINARY MAINTENANCE AC- COUNT (December 30)
393.75
$92,870.75
EXPENDITURES:
Salaries and Wages
$82,105.62
.Athletic Supplies
2,024.75
Playground Supplies, Paraphernalia, Etc.
1,623.08
·Other Recreation Supplies
2,099.12
Printing, Planographing, Etc.
187.00
Rental of Equipment, Trucks, Buses, Etc.
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