Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 185, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1916 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME TOWN HELPS

TO EXTEND USE OF PARKS Minneapolis Has Been Considering Suggestions for Improving Recreation System. Minneapolis has been studying suggestions for extending the use of parks. The subject was embodied in a report by F. S. Staley of the bureau of municipal research of the Civic and Commerce association. “The conspicuous flaw,” says the report, “in the present recreation system is the inadequate provision for active play of raei and women more than 20 years old. Children will come to the playgrounds almost without invitation. It is more difficult to reach adults, yet they need the outdoor life quite as much as the children. The park is a more logical center than the school and park buildings can be readily adapted to such purposes. “The park board should increase its efforts to make the parks real competitors for the saloon, the commercial dance hall and the movies. This will Involve obtaining park areas adjacent to the thickly populated districts, a policy to which the board is already committed.” The survey also urges a park to care for the floating population. “Thousands of men temporarily out of work,” it reads, “spend their time in the saloons and cheap lodging houses, where they are permitted to sit down. This privilege is denied them in Gateway park. Both from the health and police standpoint they are better off outdoors than in cheap houses open to them.” Everyone who has visited Minneapolis will remember beautiful Lake Harriet and its park. It is surprising then to see that this report advocates publicity to advertise parks to the people of the city.—Kansas City Star.