USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1929 > Part 21
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A full time trained recreation executive should be employed to direct the program. This should require all of his time and attention. Frequently one person is employed to serve as recreation executive and also as supervisor of physical education in the schools or for some other position but it is very rarely true that any one can do justice to community recreation work unless he gives his entire time to it.
A definite segregated recreation budget is generally desirable. Many cities have voted a mill tax for recrea- tion purposes and this assures that a comparatively defi- nite amount of money will be available each year. In some states it is possible for cities to vote that a certain percentage of their park or school budget shall be used for recreation.
In general, vital, interested, progressive service of the public function-Community Recreation-should be the primary consideration, rather than control of prop- erty or administrative convenience. These latter are ex-
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ternal and can be sensibly arranged; the former is essen- tial to successful accomplishment of the purpose. The important thing in the administration of recreation work is not so much the exact form of administration-in the last analysis local conditions must determine which is the best group to administer the system-but the degree of cooperation which the governing group and the super- intendent of recreation can secure from all city depart- ments having facilities which should be utilized. It should be borne in mind that under any form of central- ized administrative control yet devised, problems based on the joint use and control of facilities are bound to arise. Even within a department, such as the school board for example, differences arising out of the evening use of buildings must be adjusted between the day time and evening workers. Proper cooperation between the differ- ent departments is essential to success whatever the nature of the board in charge, and with cooperation suc- cess is practically assured.
Playground and Recreation Association of America Maintaining Community Service 315 Fourth Avenue New York City
M. B. #21
March, 1928
EXHIBIT B
CLASSIFICATION OF RECREATION AREAS
1-Play Lots
For babies and children up to five years of age, with benches and tables for mothers, nurses and older sisters. To replace the lost street play and the disappearing back yards and shade trees.
Size-6,000 to 10,000 square feet. If lot can be lo- cated tangent to two crowded areas, double the size of play lot.
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Location-As near as possible to center for every child population of 100 children below school age. If not possible to locate in the center of a block, children should be able to reach it by walking around block without any need for crossing a street. In case this cannot be done, a bridge over the street should be provided at proper crossings.
Elevated playlots over squares or play lots on roofs (caged) may be a temporary relief until ground lots can be established.
Layout-Shade trees around borders. Fenced and with two gates. One central grass plot. Shrubs and ever- greens around the borders. Sand-boxes with movable covers at intervals set around border under trees. Block- building platforms continuous to each sand-box.
Note: If evergreens cannot be grown on account of poor soil or soot in air, stone walls with ivy will give green background and necessary privacy.
Equipment-Sand tools, large building blocks, 1 small slide, 8 baby swings, low drinking fountain. Benches and tables. Shelter for baby carriages and from sudden rains. Toilet. Small flag pole. Play materials.
Supervision-One matron and a kindergarten teacher.
2-Neighborhood Playgrounds .
To replace lost play on the streets and open lots for children up to 14 years of age for general play and for older ones under special regulations as Saturday after- noons and evenings.
Size-From four to ten acres. If possible square or rectangular in shape.
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REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
Location-As near as possible to the center of a population of 500 children of primary and grammar school age, that is, 5 to 14 years old. Most effective radius of this type about 1/2 mile. If the 1/2 mile radius require- ment cannot be met, it is best to locate near center of 3/4 to 1 mile radius of about 2,000 school children. If this is done, size should be doubled or quadrupled if population of children is large. This involves careful study of traffic regulations to afford safe approaches to playground.
Layout-Baseball diamond with about 220 feet bat- ting radius, usually with specially designed backstops, bleachers for about 500 spectators. Two or three auxil- iary backstops with junior and midget diamonds. This must allow change to football field. One or two tennis courts. Several permanent game courts. Small locker building with separate toilet facilities. Wading pool. Shade trees around the borders. It may allow a group of shade trees in one corner. Beds of shrubbery with plenty of evergreens. Turf wherever possible. Fencing with landscape embellishments, mostly outside of fencing, tables with benches for quiet games and handicraft play. "Play Lot," if possible. Jumping pit. 50 to 75 yard straight-away.
Note: Where evergreens are difficult to grow on ac- count of poor soil or soot in air, stone wall with ivy planted on wall may offer privacy and the green background de- sirable for the eyes.
Equipment-One or two 16 foot slides. Two to four sets of swing-frames each with six swings. Two teeter sets each four to six teeters. This apparatus to be set out along one side of the playground between shade trees along the borders. If shape and space of playground permit, and if control is continuous either by having con- tinuous supervision or by fencing in the apparatus, there may be a merry-go-round and a giant stride and a gym-
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nasium frame in one horizontal length sixteen feet high with two horizontal bars, two vertical ladders, and four climbing ropes and two teeter ladders. Flag pole.
Supervision-During the season of twilight play and where special Saturday afternoon and Sunday sports are conducted, this type of playground requires: one man director with one man assistant, and one woman director with two women assistants. Where pupil play leaders are not yet developed, it requires more supervision.
3-District Playgrounds
For the active play of adults and young people over 12 years and with natural advantages for some park ef- fects, especially where connecting with or touching main streets. To do this, those playgrounds must be large enough for a generous layout for games, as baseball, foot- ball, tennis, track athletics, and yet offer park develop- ment with one or two small groves of trees. They must be capable of use for picnics, field days and national cele- brations for the district without crowding the regular game fields.
Size-Ten to twenty-four acres.
Location-One for every eight to twelve thousand inhabitants. Another good guide is to figure one for every five hundred children of high school age. Most effective radius is one-half to one mile.
Layout-Two major baseball fields with batting radius of 240 to 300 feet. One two-thirds of one mile track which should be around one of the baseball dia- monds. Four to six auxiliary backstops for junior and midget diamonds, placed at opposite corners of the main backstops. Permanent layout for field athletics. Eight to twenty-four tennis courts. Four to six handball courts.
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Permanent Game Courts. Landscape park features and one or two small groves of trees. Field house with sani- tary facilities, locker and dressing and bath rooms. Direc- tors' rooms and club rooms. Bowling Green. The layout should include the features of a neighborhood playground, that is, there should be a neighborhood playground and play lot within these grounds, especially if these grounds contain over 12 acres. If there are over twenty acres, it is well to include such features as an archery court, and caretaker's house and tool house.
Equipment-The same equipment as a neighborhood playground with 50% increase of each kind if there is no neighborhood playground within one-half mile.
Supervision-During the season of twilight play and when special Saturday afternoon and Sunday sports are conducted, this type of playground requires at least one man director with two assistants, and one woman direc- tor with three women assistants.
4-Recreation Park
A city park to provide for the average man and woman as far as it is consistent with fairly intensive use ; access to large open areas away from the man-made stone city with its heat and noise and dangers from traffic; to rest his sense of sight, hearing, smelling, and touch by the colors and noises and odors of nature and the con- tact with Mother Earth.
Size-100 to 250 acres.
Location-One for every 40,000 inhabitants, tangent to or near the city limits of such population.
Layout-50% of total area woodland with varieties of large shade trees in groves of six to ten acres, with a
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few main walks, arranged so that as far as possible dif- ferent landscape effects are presented in different areas, (e.g .- open wood, close wood, glade, valley, hilltop) and so that some areas may be maintained sequestered and unended. The whole to be planned with a view for effec- tive winter recreation, that is, toboggan sliding, skiing and skating.
25% devoted to greens, vistas and modern landscape enhancements of nature, and to bird and plant reserva- tions.
10% devoted to reservations for native animals, in- cluding a "zoo."
10% for water recreation including skating in winter.
4% for play and game fields without artificial ac- commodations for seating crowds. This layout should, in a reasonable natural way, provide for spontaneous in- dulgence of families or organizations out for a day's pic- nic, to indulge in some form of active exercise and enter- tainment which comes from picnic games and contests. It should give in the same way an opportunity for relief of mothers with children who must have active exercise. The groves of trees should provide a variety of picnic places with opportunities for simple cooking. There should be shelters and toilet buildings, with caretaker's quarters and an auto parking enclosure and sheds.
Equipment-Only a few sand gardens and swings near the picnic places in the groves. Some rustic benches and tables. Drinking fountains, washing accommoda- tions, cooking accommodations. Incinerators.
Supervision-One man director with assistant and office and clerical assistant. One supervisor for each grove for the regulation of groves by organized groups
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of citizens and for the supervision of individuals or small groups using the park spontaneously. Six park Police Officers for day and night patrols.
5-The Reservation
A public area, owned by the United States, a state, a county or a city ; located on the seashore or along rivers or lakes or in mountains; similar in purpose, layout and equipment to the Recreation Park for cities but less in- tensively developed and used; usually including camping cities and automobile routes with vistas, lookout towers, etc .; mainly intended to furnish for the average family a wholesome week-end excursion or longer vacation under the healing influence of nature.
This should include a building which offers simple and wholesome hotel accommodations. Such buildings may be leased to responsible parties under supervision for a limited term of years, or very small areas may be spe- cially set aside where private capital may build hotels.
This type to include forest reserves with the most modern ideas of development and conservation of beasts, fish and birds, and regulation of fishing and hunting and camping. Only by bringing the average people to our reservations can we hope permanently to stimulate the interest of the large mass of citizens in the vital problem of preserving enough of the nation's resources of unsoiled outdoor beauty in such a way that they may be perma- nently enjoyed. Moreover, the nation's agricultural re- sources are much influenced by the preservation of areas of forest lands, especially by protecting water supply and by providing another stable form of outdoor employment, particularly in winter. If forest lands can be made a source of health and recreation for the average citizen, we have a most powerful incentive for regulation of aver-
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age or minimum areas which must be maintained through State control of planting and cutting for lumber.
The countries which have made their forests acces- sible, and to a degree inhabitable for vacationists, have made the best progress in forest conservation.
Our huge private reservations have only temporary value, since they are subject to change of owners or poli- cies. Each State in the Union must make its proportional contributions.
Questionnaire on Playground Standards Playground and Recreation Association of America 315 Fourth Avenue, New York City
THE CENTRAL RECREATION COUNCIL OF ALLENTOWN, PA.
The Recreation Commission's Best Ally By Richard J. Schmoyer Superintendent of Recreation Allentown, Pa.
EXHIBIT C
The Recreation Council of Allentown, which is a clearing house for all the recreational activities promoted in the city, is composed of three representatives from each of the various civic, social, religious, and fraternal organizations in the city. There are about a hundred and thirty-five people in the Council representing every section and ward of the city. These members under the leadership of a president, vice-president and secretary, treasurer selected by the Council at the annual meeting, come together three times a year. In the spring they meet to plan summer activities ; in the summer, fall activi- ties, such as the opening of community centers and the organization of soccer and football leagues. In the late
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REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
fall the Council concerns itself with the organization of basket ball leagues and song festivities.
The Council has no iron-clad constitution but func- tions as the occasion and the season of the year warrant. As has been suggested, activities are organized on a sea- son basis. In the spring of the year, baseball, tennis, vol- ley ball, swimming, boating, canoeing, track and hiking committees are appointed. The report of each committee is never made in a formal way at a following meeting but finds expression in the enthusiasm and support of the com- munity for that particular sport. The Supervisor of Recreation must be the dynamo which will keep the com- mittee going. He must utilize them as so many people who will make these particular sports their concern and will see that they are successes.
The Council has proved invaluable to the Recreation Commission, the legal body appointed by the mayor. We find it exceedingly helpful to lay the plans of the Commis- sion before the Council when we desire to put a new piece of work into effect. The Council will rush in where the duly authorized Recreation Commission must remain in the background. The Council has one hundred thirty-five thoroughly interested members who, when they want a certain thing, are sure to get it. Just at present it is ad- vocating some much needed improvements on our play- grounds. The Council knows full well that there is noth- ing quite as effective to the office holder, who is also gen- erally the watch-dog of the treasury, as the presence of a given number of interested tax payers at a city council meeting demanding improvements. The fair grounds with approximately fifty acres, will some day belong to the city, and their acquisition will be due to the untiring efforts of the Council.
Forty-eight teams of amateur baseball players were kept intact last year through the work of the Council.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
This year it was responsible for a hundred mile mass relay run with two hundred runners from Allentown to New York and fifty business and professional men furnishing transportation and acting as hosts to the boys. This project was possible because the Central Recreation Coun- cil approved it and put its moral and financial force back of it.
The secret of success lies in the fact that the various committees are composed of "cranks" on a particular sport or activity, i.e., may be baseball, music or dra- matics-who will, if must be, fight for that activity. If there are not enough baseball diamonds, the baseball com- mittee of the Council brings pressure to bear until the ball fields materialize. This is true of all other activities.
The interlocking of the many groups, which means a closer inter-dependence of their social and recreational life, is also an important consideration of our Council. These groups are learning to know each other better and the result is a more unified social consciousness. The community is being helped to find itself through the Coun- cil.
Playground and Recreation Association of America 315 Fourth Avenue, New York City
EXHIBIT D
ACTIVITIES COVERED BY YEAR ROUND RECREATIONAL PROGRAM (Partial list only)
Spring Activities
(1) City-wide Marble Tournament for boys.
(2) After school play centers, two hours a day and all day Saturday.
(3) City-wide Jacks Tournament for girls.
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REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
(4) City-wide Kite Building and Flying Tourna- ments.
(5) City-wide Bird House Building Contest and Exhibit.
(6) City-wide Music Week Celebration.
(7) May Day Celebration for all school children.
(8) City-wide Gardening (children in cooperation with Board of Education).
Summer Activities
(1) 7 Playgrounds including athletic field.
(2) Church Recreation Association (cooperation with Christian Associations) to work out year round program for Young People's Associations, adult recreations, social recreation, annual pic- nics, etc.
(3) City-wide Tennis Tournaments.
(4) City-wide Baseball.
(5) Fourth of July Celebration (family day).
(6) Overnight and week-end camps.
(7) City-wide Soccer and Football leagues.
(8) City-wide Water Sports, Swimming Pool.
(9) Picnics.
(10) Band Concerts.
(11) Field Days.
Fall Activities
(1) 10 After School Play Centers, two hours a day, five days and all day Saturday.
(2) City-wide Hallowe'en Celebration.
(3) City-wide Industrial Athletic Meet-Labor Day.
(4) City-wide Harmonica Contest-Harmonica bands in every school.
(5) Inter-school Playgrounds Leagues (every boy in the grade schools on a team).
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
(6) Leagues for the Girls.
(7) Athletic Badge Tests for boys and girls.
(8) Cooperation with Civic Clubs in recreation pro- grams-family nights-dramatics, etc., etc.
Winter Activities
(1) Church social recreation program.
(2) School neighborhood adult recreation centers- two nights a week.
(3) Outdoor Sports-Tobogganing, Skating, Coast- ing, Hockey, Skiing, Snow Shoeing, etc.
(4) Organization of neighborhood associations.
(5) Training institute to train volunteer leaders for all agencies.
(6) City-wide Basket Ball-Bowling.
(7) Evening lecture courses in cooperation with Board of Education.
(8) Dramatic Clubs.
(9) Music Clubs.
(10) City-wide Christmas Celebrations.
(11) Institutional recreation program.
General
(1) Service Bureau to assist all agencies with recre- ation programs.
(2) Picnic and party "Play Kits" to loan to groups.
(3) Suggested reading courses on recreation prob- lems.
Exhibit E
TYPE OF YEAR ROUND PROGRAM
The Department of Recreation of Columbus, Georgia, as a feature of its report has issued a statement entitled, "The Department of Recreation-What Does It Do For Columbus ?" This report contains a partial list of the
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REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
services rendered through cooperation with existing agencies in addition to other regular activities.
Group or Organization Schools
Type of Service Rendered
After-school play - Organization of Athletics.
Organization of Glee Clubs.
Leadership for class parties and socials.
Playground and planning-Talks on value of play and equipment of grounds.
Cooperation with P. T. Assn., in plans for festivals.
Loan of "Picnic Kit" for outings. Coaching of special teams in ath- letics.
All-Girls' Athletic Field program.
Party planning-Leadership fur- nished for socials and parties of all age groups.
Loan of "Picnic Kit" for picnics and outings.
Plans for picnics-Leadership fur- nished.
Lectures in young people's insti- tutes on training leaders for recre- ational part of their program.
Assistance with dramatics-music -singing.
Assist with convention and plans. Direction and organization of pag- eants.
Banquet programs and leadership. Assist in plans of building or ground layout for recreational pur- poses.
Churches and Schools
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Industries and Mercantile
Assistance with Convention pro- grams.
Songs-Athletic organization.
Plans and direction of picnics for employees and loan of "Picnic Kit."
Civic Clubs Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimists, Boosters, etc.
Socials-Banquet programs. Plans for Ladies' Nights and spe- cial entertainment programs. Cooperation with Rotary Boys' Week.
Convention program help. Leadership for songs at luncheons.
Welfare Groups
Party plans-leadership furnished. Finding leadership for summer camps.
Games; handicraft and social pro- grams for children of detention home, Juvenile Court.
Public Health N. A. Children's Home Group or
Program plans for summer camps. Parade plans and supervisions. Type of Service Rendered
Organizations Recreational Groups
Red Cross Life Savings Instruction by Athletic Director. Assistance with - Camping Pro- grams.
Boy Scouts Girl Scouts
Party plans and leadership. Finding leadership for camp game work. Loan of play equipment for outings and special events.
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REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
Y.M.C.A. Y.W.C.A. Y.M.H.A.
Assisting with organizations' pro- gram.
Loan of "Picnic Kit."
Community Groups
Organization of dramatic clubs- athletic clubs-sewing clubs-hik- ing groups, etc.
General
Christmas celebration. Other holiday celebrations. Parade plans and supervision.
Loan Library of books on recrea- tional subjects.
Consultation service for any group in planning recreational activities. Organization of city-wide leagues. In sports and athletics competition. Red Cross Life Savings Instruc- tion.
Talks on Development of Recrea- tional Facilities.
Out of Town Groups
Party Planning.
Assisting in planning festivals and other events for schools to make up funds for worthy cause. Playgrounds Planning service.
Consultation service on program which can be carried on in their community.
Assisting with short term insti- tutes in recreational leadership. Suggestions in equipping play- grounds.
Playgrounds
Operation under trained leader- ship in nine playgrounds.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
EXHIBIT F PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA Maintaining Community Service 315 Fourth Avenue New York City File Reading: Community Center Bulletin #1808
COMMUNITY CENTER ACTIVITIES, SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN
The social centers of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, con- ducted by the Department of Public Recreation, Eli D. Antonio, Director, were opened on October 10th for a six months period. Insufficient funds made it impossible for the Department to arrange for all the activities re- quested but the following classes are being carried on.
7 English classes
2 Evening sewing classes
1 Afternoon sewing class
1 Millinery class
2 Personal Hygiene (Manicuring and Marcelling)
2 Manual Training classes
1 Quiet Game Room
1 Stage-Dancing class
1 China Painting class
1 Art class
2 Boxing and Wrestling classes
2 Ballroom Dancing classes
8 Afternoon Dramatic Clubs
1 Evening Dramatic Club
2 Orchestra (1 adult-1 grades)
1 Newsboys' Republic
5 Gym & High Organized Clubs (men)
1 Gym & High Organized Club (women)
1 Nursery
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REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
1 Swimming class (men)
1 Swimming class (women)
1 Red Cross Life Saving class (men)
1 Red Cross Life Saving class (women)
1 Swimming class-Boy Scouts
1 Swimming class-Girl Scouts.
1 Occupational Therapy Class
The occupational therapy class represents the newest addition to the list and is the one which promises to take on large proportions. The Department has secured the names and addresses of a number of bed-ridden invalids or people confined to chairs and they are being taught to do rug-weaving, china painting and almost anything in the line of handwork which it is possible to do sitting up. The articles made are later disposed of.
EXHIBIT G
Budget for Mt. Vernon, New York.
12. Playgrounds
a. Nature hikes and study, picnics and swimming.
b. Ath. badge contest.
c. Handicraft.
d. Story telling, plays, pageants.
e. Corrective Gymnastics. Salary Supt. 3 months .. $900.00
Salary 2 year round workers 900.00
22 Plgd. workers (direc- tors) 2 mos .. 5,500.00
Equipment 6 Plgds. per- manent 1,800.00
Equipment 12 Plgds. perishable 1,200.00 Holiday and other cele- brations 175.00
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