USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1960 > Part 8
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Other activities conducted by the Commission throughout the year report successful seasons as to program and member- ship, and many included public exhibitions, presentations, and performances. Among such groups is the Recreation Camera Club, which included among its successes of the past year the publication of a monthly paper known as "Double Exposure".
SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS
At the May meeting of the Commission the Superintendent announced that two new playgrounds - Marchi and Prospect Hill - would be in operation during the Summer. In order to assure a successful first season at both of these units, each was manned by a strong Head of Unit and a capable Assistant. That both playgrounds were successful is evidenced not only by the attendance, but also by the number of excellent reports re- ceived throughout the season.
The Summer Playgrounds season as a whole was about average, which by comparison with other seasons should give it a rating between good and very good. A larger than usual
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turnover of veteran personnel resulted in the assignment as Heads of Units of seven Leaders (five women and two men) who had had only one year's experience. Although all carried out their assignments in the required manner, the know-how of operation in this capacity in a program as extensive as the Commission's should require a minimum of two years' service, and their inexperience in some instances was evident at times during the season.
A death in the family in one instance, military service in another, and inability of a male Assistant to adapt himself to the work in a third, resulted in unanticipated changes in the Summer personnel. In 1959 there were seventeen male Heads of Units out of a possible twenty-five. In 1960 there were fourteen male Heads of Units out of a possible twenty-seven. With no intent to play down our female personnel, who rank with the best in the country, and who year-in and year-out do their work so well; all things being equal, a male Head of Unit is preferable to a female Head of Unit. This is especially true because of the large number of "control" problems present in a city as densely populated as Somerville, where the neighbor- hood units (non-athletic) vary in size from 5,500 square feet (Stone Place) to 70,000 square feet (Marchi).
Weather-wise it was a season of extremes. It was cooler than average and dryer than average during July; but August presented its share of wet weather, and the season as a whole had more rainy days than usual. However, although the wet days caused a number of adjustments in schedules, all play- ground tournaments, league schedules, and special days were completed at the season's close. (Incidentally, the rainy days permit all to catch up on non-leadership aspects of the work, and the time is well spent via staff meetings, games demon- strations, conferences, Handcraft and Folk Dancing instruc- tion, etc.)
Both the reports and records prove that, despite the "wet interruptions", the attendance participation during the 1960 Summer season was greater than hitherto. However, figures are just figures, and one would have to see the concrete evi- dence of this day-in and day-out attendance participation to be impressed. It is a rare thing to pass any one of the twenty-nine playground units and not find a group of children busily en- gaged in what is described as the life of the child - play.
As to the contents of the program itself, where to begin . and where to end presents a problem. The word "extension"
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has been overdone. Yet it seems we are always extending and improving. For example, Handcraft has always been one of our best programs, and yet there seems to be no end to the quality, quantity, novelty, and variety of the objects made by busy hands in this specialty. Before the season started, Miss June DeCourcey, Supervisor of Handcraft, prepared, assem- bled, and distributed to each unit a Handcraft Brochure, complete with detailed instructions for making the various projects. The City-wide Handcraft Project for the Summer was a "Playground Mascot". Each playground created and made its own animal, puppet, or other version of a Playground Mas- cot, and it was amazing to see the originality of the articles
WAHOO WAH! WAHOO WAH!
You remember the Indian Love Call, and Dartmouth's "Wahoo Wah's"; Now feast your eyes on our injuns, including Chiefs and Squaws.
turned out by the individual playgrounds. Additionally, each week the two best articles from each unit were turned in to the Handcraft Supervisor, and during the period August 8-19 these articles were on display at five different locations throughout the City.
Other examples of program extension included a series of Basketball Clinics for Boys, conducted by Ben Swain; an Inter-
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Playground Track Meet for Girls; and a Horseshoe League for Men - all of which are described more completely later in this report.
"Best yet" seems to be the expression used by everyone to describe the Commission's 39th Annual Inter-Playground Track Meet, held at Trum Field on August 9; and that about describes it. Shaw Playground won the Meet with fifty points, Conway was second, Trum third, and Foss fourth. All seven units scored points. Normally the Meet is a team proposition, and individual recognition is given only in its relation to the whole. But this year, the performance of two boys warranted an exception inasmuch as new records were established. Edward Lupi, representing Trum in Class B, tied the 75-yard Dash record (8.6 seconds); broke the High Jump record with a jump of 5 feet, 1 inch; and leaped to a new Broad Jump record of 17 feet, 1 inch. In Class C, John Oxley, representing Shaw Play- ground, established a new record in the High Jump with a jump of 4 feet, 3 inches; and tied the 13-feet, 10-inch Broad Jump record which has been standing since 1942. Needless to add, the interest in the Meet was very high, and the turnout of spec- tators exceeded that of any other year. This event seems to be growing in popularity each year, especially among the adults.
Despite threatening weather on both the day of the Folk Dance Rehearsal on August 15, and "PLAY DAY" itself on August 16, both events were conducted according to schedule. In fact, blue skies were in evidence before the completion of the "PLAY DAY" program. The number of spectators was the only difference between "PLAY DAY" and the Inter-Play- ground Track Meet. As for smoothness of operation, with everyone carrying out their assignments, "PLAY DAY" could not have been improved upon. The dances were both spectac- ular and skillfully performed - a credit to the Special Super- visor For Folk Dancing, Miss Walda Corbett, the women Leaders, and the girls themselves - and the colorful costumes, the creations of Miss Jane McCarthy, Special Leader For Hand- craft, gave them the final touch. The boys' and girls' games were novel and interesting, and were enjoyed by the partici- pants as well as the adult and child spectators. The latter numbered over a thousand (At some time during the afternoon most of the child spectators also became participants), and was the largest group to participate in this event to date. An evening performance would undoubtedly draw more adult spectators, and each year when the Superintendent sees the excellence of the "PLAY DAY" performance he wishes it were an evening event so that more of the parents could be present
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to see how well the children perform and what fun they're having. At the same time, the program would have to be shortened for an evening performance, and this would mean less fun for the children, and would present other problems involving safety, transportation, etc. At the present time it seems better to let "PLAY DAY" remain just that - "PLAY DAY".
Bicycle Safety Week was conducted during the first week in August, and was again sponsored by the James A. Logan Post. Numerically, it was slightly more successful this year than in 1959, despite threatening weather and a schedule con- flict on one of the days. However, it is the opinion of the Superintendent that, until this program attracts more boys in the 13-to-15-year-old bracket who own their bicycles and who seem to be the principal violators of bicycle safety rules, it will not attain the success desired. This activity is conducted as a joint enterprise of the Recreation Commission and the Police Department, with the assistance of the Registry of Motor Ve- hicles and the Massachusetts Safety Council.
While on the subject of safety, although there were more accidents reported this Summer than in 1959 (and some of these were of the "once in a lifetime" variety), the value of the rubber swing seats was proven by the fact that the swing accidents reported this year were not of a serious nature, as they could have been if the old style wooden seats had been still in use.
Once again, Officer Robert Doyle was assigned by Chief of Police Thomas O'Brien to assist the Recreation Commission during the Summer season in the solution of disciplinary prob- lems, vandalism, card-playing, etc. Already the benefits of his assignment have been evident at two units where year-round card-playing has been the habit for at least fifteen years. This year it was almost non-existent. Officer Doyle was most co- operative in many other directions, also, including safety, police supervision, etc. His assignment to Bicycle Safety Week, along with Safety Officer William Kelley, as well as the services of the Auxiliary Police at the Inter-Playground Track Meet, are indicative of the team-work between the Recreation Com- mission and the Police Department. On behalf of the Recrea- tion Commission the Superintendent has frequently expressed appreciation to Chief O'Brien for his many acts of co-operation.
For the second year, a Memorial Service for deceased members of the Recreation Commission's staff was conducted
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at St. Anthony's Church on Vine Street on Thursday morning, July 7, at 8:00 o'clock. Again the late Chairman of the Com- mission, Father Properzi, was the celebrant of the Mass. The Service was well attended, and the interest and response on the part of both present and past workers make its annual observ- ance highly desirable.
During the week of July 25, Ben Swain, then of the Boston Celtics, was assigned by the M.D.C. as a Play Leader at Dilboy Field. The Superintendent saw in his assignment an opportu- nity for conducting a series of Basketball Clinics at the seven athletic areas (Since there are no basketball courts at Foss Park, Grimmons Playground was substituted for this area). A schedule was drawn up, and Mr. Swain visited each of the areas at the dates and times specified, and instruction was given in the various offensive and defensive techniques of Basketball. An example of the success of this activity was il- lustrated at the Shaw Playground Clinic, which was held on a hot, humid afternoon when the number of boys normally would be a handful. On this particular afternoon more than fifty boys were present to take advantage of the Clinic. At each Clinic a group of boys was selected to participate in an All-Star Game at the Trum Field Basketball Courts on Monday afternoon, August 22.
A new inter-playground athletic activity for girls was added to the Summer program this year - a City-wide Girls' Track Meet, held on Monday, August 22, at Dilboy Stadium. Its origin came about through a series of circumstances - a re- quest from the girls and the women Leaders, the success of the Boys' Track Meet, the success of the girls' participation in "Playground U.S.A." several years ago, and the current em- phasis on physical fitness for both boys and girls. The ten events on the program were decided upon by the Superintend- ent and Miss Marilyn Flaherty, Supervisor. They included Dashes, Relays, and Standing Broad Jump for all three classes, and a Running High Jump for Class A. Trophies and medals were awarded the winners. Approximately one hundred and fifty-five girls took part in this, the first official Girls' Inter- Playground Track Meet conducted by the Recreation Commis- sion. Certainly the interest indicated by this turnout would warrant a continuance of this activity in some form.
As an aftermath of the Summer Playgrounds season, on the evening of October 19 at the High School Auditorium, the ninety-two boy winners of Championship and Sportsmanship awards in Baseball, Softball, and Volley Ball were once again
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presented Jackets contributed by the Kiwanis Club of Somer- ville. His Honor, Mayor Harold W. Wells, and members of the Kiwanis Club were on hand and were introduced by the Super- intendent. On November 3, a similar presentation was made to girl winners of Dodge Ball and Shoe-Ball Championships by the Somerville Lodge of Elks, following a supper for the girls in the Elks Hall.
HORSESHOE LEAGUE FOR MEN
Included in the Dilboy Field "face-lifting" by the M.D.C. were four Horseshoe Courts in an enclosed area adjacent to the Basketball Courts. In an effort to stimulate and revive
RINGERS ALLOWED
Although the horse is now almost as extinct as the collar button, the game. of Horseshoes is still popular, as indicated in this picture taken at Dilboy Field last Summer when the Commission revived this activity.
interest in this game, the Superintendent had an announce- ment inserted in the local press urging the use of these courts, and mentioning the possibility of forming a Horseshoe League. A meeting was announced for Wednesday, July 27, at Dilboy Field, and despite threatening and stormy weather, fourteen. men were present (including a group of six from the Logan
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Post) and indicated interest in forming a League. A Recreation Leader was assigned to work with the group, and from then until the end of August, weather permitting, sessions were conducted on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 o'clock. A League was formed and the first matches were played on Monday, August 15. The success of this activity warrants its continuance next year, and the League will prob- ably start sometime in the Spring and continue throughout the Summer season.
SOFTBALL LEAGUES FOR MEN
The 1960 Softball season found twelve teams competing for the two titles and the four berths in the play-offs. All twelve teams completed the season successfully, and although the quality of the teams was not up to previous standards, the competition was surprisingly good.
In the American League, the Wells Club proved to be the League winner in a three-way battle with the Havican and Dunne Clubs. The Dunne Club, which led the League most of the season, finished in second place by defeating the Havican Club twice in a row during the final week of play. The Havican Club won the play-offs, however, by winning two straight from the Kelly Club, which had won their series from the Dunne Club while Havican was defeating the Wells Club.
In the National League, the Henebury Club easily copped the title, but a three-way tug-of-war took place for the second berth. On the final evening of the season, the Lynch Club finished in fourth place, while the other two teams - A & A Movers and Tom's Variety - finished in a tie. The Henebury Club also won the play-offs in this League.
An especially wet Spring season raised havoc with the League schedules this year, and brought about the latest sea- sonal closing in recent years.
SENIOR CITIZENS PROGRAM
The year 1960 brought a further expansion in the member- ship of the Senior Citizens Club, with a total registration of one hundred and twenty-five members. Weekly attendance at meetings throughout the Winter months averaged sixty-six members, and during the Spring season the average weekly attendance was more than eighty, while ninety-plus members attended the Third Annual Anniversary Dinner in May.
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During the Winter months, several opportunities to attend outstanding film fare and stage presentations were offered the members at reduced rates, and the regular weekly programs were held as usual. Despite a severe snowstorm early in March, some ten members trekked to the Y.M.C.A. meeting place, although the meeting had been postponed when the severity of the storm became apparent.
Many new features were introduced during the Spring season, including a Mock Trial by the District Attorney's of- fice, in which several members of the Club took part and gave outstanding performances. At another of the weekly meetings, the Stop And Shop Market provided a program which included an excellent display of various cuts of meat, etc., and following the program the cuts of meat and other items were distributed to those present, with well over eighty members receiving any- thing from a roast of beef to a dozen coffee rolls.
The Summer program included an Outing to Salem Willows on June 8, a Cook-Out at the Larz Anderson Estate in Brookline on June 29, a Boat trip to Nantasket Beach on July 13, and a Bus trip to Hampton Beach on August 3. Additionally, compli- mentary tickets were made available to members to attend a few performances of the play, "Helen of Troy".
The departure of Mrs. Elinor Thomas, Recreation Leader, in June was a great loss to the group, whose members had become quite attached to her, and whose contributions to the success of the program will be missed by all.
During the Fall season, an outstanding Hallowe'en Party was held in October, with some twenty-five members dressed in costume; and in November an excellent Thanksgiving Din- ner, attended by over seventy-five members, proved to be a hit with all. Three Theatre Parties were held, including "Spar- tacus" and "Cinerama Holiday", and the season came to an end on December 22 with the group's Fourth Annual Christ- mas Party.
Although this was the fourth Fall season, the number of members continued constant, though many were ill during the season. The average age of the group has now reached nearly seventy-five, and it is expected that the seasonal illnesses char- acteristic of persons in this age bracket will occasionally affect the weekly attendance of the members, as hitherto.
During the month of December, a survey was made by the Commission of Somerville residents over sixty years of age, and
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although the results have not been completely tabulated as yet, statistics show a growth in the number of people reaching sixty years of age or over in Somerville.
YOUTH SERVICE COMMITTEE
In 1959 a new organization known as the Youth Service Committee of Somerville was formed. This Committee is com- posed of representatives of public and private organizations dealing with youth, as well as private citizens interested in the general welfare of the youth of the City. The Superintendent of Recreation is an ex-officio member of the Executive Com- mittee.
Since its organization the Youth Service Committee has engaged in a series of worth-while projects. Monthly meetings of the group, under the able leadership of its President, Mrs. Mary MacIsaac, who has been very active in a number of civic organizations, have been stimulating, and have covered a variety of subjects aimed at the physical, mental, and moral welfare of youth.
A number of sub-committees of this group have been very active during the past year. One of these, the Survey Commit- tee, was headed by the Superintendent of Recreation as its Chairman. The purpose of this Committee was to determine the degree of recreation opportunities (programs, number of participants, leadership, facilities, etc.) available to the youth of Somerville.
If this Committee continues to progress at the rate it has during the past year-and-a-half, for a number of reasons, all of them good, its organization will have been more than justified.
FACILITIES
Except for the completion of Dilboy Field by the Metro- politan District Commission, and the development of the two new playground areas at Marchi and Prospect Hill (henceforth to be known as the Senator James J. Corbett Playground), there were no other outdoor or indoor facility changes. As for Dilboy Field, according to a number of authorities there is still work to be done on the field itself before maximum use can be made of it for athletic purposes. The success of the two new playground units at Marchi and Prospect Hill is mentioned in the Summer Playgrounds section of this report. These two
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areas are considerably different in size. The 7,000-square-foot area at Prospect Hill was used to the maximum, and while the almost two-acre area of Marchi Playground was used exten- sively, it is hoped that some greater use can be made of this sizable area unique in Somerville, where play space must be considered in terms of square feet rather than in acres.
The Superintendent began in the Fall of 1959 to attempt to bring about a correction of the conditions of the Foss Park athletic area. Mention has been made of this subject so fre-
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"THE TOWER ON THE HEIGHTS"
Not Boston College - Prospect Hill. Not War, but Peace is won on fields like this. Fun, not Furor - Happiness, not Hostility are the result at the Commission's new Prospect Hill Playground opened in 1960.
quently and at length that it would seem that nothing more could be written without being repetitious. A legislative Bill was submitted and tabled, conferences were held, preliminary plans and recommendations were made by the Superintendent for its redevelopment as an athletic area, and the transfer of a sum of money for this purpose was approved. This all took place in 1960. It is hoped that in 1961 the results of these efforts will bear fruit.
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The suspended basketball backstop at the Trade High School has yet to be installed, and as at Foss Park, it is hoped that in the coming months this too will be accomplished. In any event, it will not be due to the lack of effort by the Com- mission if both of these do not take place.
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 to the Commissioner of Public Works, and the Commission feels confident that every effort will be made to bring them to completion :-
1) CONWAY PLAYGROUND :-
Grading of the Field. Repair of Benches.
Lighting of the Basketball Courts (similar to existing lights at Shaw). Resurfacing of Basketball Courts.
2) GLEN STREET PLAYGROUND :-
Replacing of Lights where required on Softball Diamond.
Development of a Multi-Use area on the Palmer Avenue side of the Playground.
Hot-topping the area on the corner of Glen and Oliver Streets, and attaching Sprays to the Building.
3) LINCOLN PARK :-
Establishment of a Multi-Use area between Diamond #1 and Dia- mond #2.
Shade areas over the Sand Boxes.
4) SHAW PLAYGROUND :-
Repair and extension of Backstop.
Conversion of present "hot-topped" area in left field to a Multi-Use area.
Continue work (fill, roll, remove stones, etc.) started last year on athletic area. (Many favorable comments resulted from this effort to make field more playable.)
5) TRUM FIELD :-
Installation of additional or more powerful Lights in Basketball Courts. (Consider the possibility of putting arm of lights on pole in deep center field, on reverse side of existing Softball lights, for more powerful lighting of Basketball Courts.)
Replacing of Lights where required on Softball Diamond. Erection of Portable Bleachers (3 to 5 tiers high) on Cedar Street side. Resurfacing of Multi-Use area (Basketball Courts).
In the Multi-Use area (Basketball Courts), either a gradual slanting of the berm on the field side or moving it back a few feet.
6) FLORENCE STREET PLAYGROUND :-
Hot-topping of entire play area.
7) HOULEY PLAYGROUND :-
Hot-topping of the area and installation of Basketball Court, making Houley either exclusively a Basketball area or a Multi-Use area.
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8) HOYT-SULLIVAN PLAYGROUND :-
Establishment of a Multi-Use area. If this is not possible, hot-top- ping of part of area is recommended. Some type of fixture on existing Fountain to permit attachment of Shower Spray. Permanent Storage Place similar to present one at Conway Playground.
9) MARCHI PLAYGROUND :-
Construction of a Cement Sand Box.
10) MYSTIC AVENUE HOUSING PROJECT PLAYGROUND :-
Completion of development of Softball area (Backstop, etc.) on land adjacent to playground on Veterans' Project.
Erection of some type of Storage Place. (Present storage facilities un- satisfactory and impractical.) Drain for Water Bubbler.
11) STONE PLACE PLAYGROUND :- Removal of the Concrete Sand Box.
12) TUFTS PARK PLAYGROUND :-
Installation of 4-foot Fence running the width of the entrance of the Driveway leading to the Swing Frame.
13) WOODS PLAYGROUND :-
Removal of old black Swing Frame, replacing it with a Horseshoe or Shuffleboard Court.
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