Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 118, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1916 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE]

HOME TOWN HELPS

PARKS MEAN MUCH TO CITY Playgrounds a Most Important Part in the Welfare of Any Community. Play and outdoor exercise are as necessary to the modern city dweller as is education, according to J. R. Richards, Chicago's superintendent of recreation. The way in which spend their lives after the day’s journey is over — the way in which they play—offers them the best chance of contributing to the enhancement of one another’s lives; that is the view of Herbert Croly in “Progressive Democracy.” Parks are often called the lungs of the citieß. That seems to denote health giving. To call them the heart of the cities might give more idea of the moral value of the people’s playgrounds. That there is a moral issue in the use of public parks is the theme of Mr. Richards’ paper on the American city. The leisure time period, he declares, is the part of our existence that makes or breaks us. The saloon, Offering facilities for getting together, is one resort open to the idle hour, and he asserts that “the first visit is for companionship and not for booze.” Among the recommendations for the development of recreation opportunities for adults is that city authorities should co-operate with organizations already in existence and should have a survey made to put into use for outdoor sports all vacant areas. Grownups, he believes, should be Induced to take more interest in golf, tennis, cricket, boating, skating and other games and should be given plenty of room for sport. Public swimming pools also are urged to spread health and retain it. C