RECREATION PARKS 



their scope may well be extended insofar as their use justifies, the 

 question arises as to what extent they may be included in the develop- 

 ment and design of a park, without overtopping, and in a sense 

 absorbing, the park. The General Director of Field Houses and 

 Playgrounds, Chicago, frankly makes this statement in regard to 

 recreation centres: 



" Legally these places are parks ; but the treatment and equipment of 

 their areas resemble parks only in the presence of a limited number of trees, 

 shrubs, and grassy places, and flowering plants where it has been possible to 

 place these features of traditional park building." 



Equipment which limits " trees, shrubs, grassy places and flowering 

 plants " does not belong in parks but in playgrounds, and the sooner this 

 truth is understood and accepted, the less endangered will be our parks. 

 Properly considered and so constructed, recreation parks are 

 those arranged for such public enjoyment as takes place under self- 

 direction, with no organised leadership, and having no restrictions 

 other than those imposed by park custodians and guardians to restrain 

 action that would interfere with the rights of others or bring damage 

 to park property. This type of park will permit and should provide 

 for such forms of active recreation as baseball, football, tennis, cricket, 

 golf, and the like, but will exclude forms of recreation that destroy 

 park character and require active management and the services of 

 instructors and directors. 



LEGITIMATE PARK IDEALS 



The fundamental purpose of recreation parks is to give the people 

 of cities opportunity of rest and outdoor enjoyment within the city 

 confines. The facilities for play and amusement should be such as 

 conduce to exercise, of the sort that will improve health and spirits. 

 Many people are so dormant that they cannot be induced to participate 

 in anything more active than a moving-picture show. For such as 



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