84 Chicago Bureau of Public Efficiency 



the presidency of Mr. Henry G. Foreman, the Board of South 

 Park Commissioners undertook the development in their terri- 

 tory on an extensive scale of small parks and playgrounds. The 

 first plant was put in operation by that Board in 1905. The 

 social value of these facilities to the community has been very 

 great. The West Chicago Park Commissioners and the Lincoln 

 Park Commissioners have followed the example of the South 

 Park Commissioners in this respect, but have not carried the 

 development so far. 



SOUTH PARK COMMISSIONERS 



The South Park Board owns seventeen small park sites, ten 

 of which are in full operation and two partially improved. 



A general director of fieldhouses and playgrounds, subor- 

 dinate only to the general superintendent of parks, and the Park 

 Board, has supervision over the physical, intellectual and social 

 activities of all the small parks and playgrounds. This work at 

 each small park is in the immediate charge of a fieldhouse direc- 

 tor. Originally the fieldhouse director's control extended over 

 the physical instructors only, the maintenance and operation of 

 the buildings, pools, and playgrounds being in charge of a build- 

 ing foreman who reported to a general building foreman. The 

 latter's authority was independent of the general director. Con- 

 fusion of authority in directing the uses of the equipment, with 

 the attendant waste and public dissatisfaction, resulted, about two 

 years ago, in subordinating the general building foreman and 

 his men to the general director, reserving, however, to the general 

 building foreman the selection of building janitors and pool 

 attendants. As an example of the inefficiency of this arrange- 

 ment, a test of the qualifications of the lifesavers, subsequent to 

 a drowning accident, developed the fact that one man could not 

 swim and only three out of thirty-five knew how to rescue a 

 drowning person ; and, further, that they were on duty fully 

 dressed in white duck uniforms, a serious hindrance in the water. 

 The accident resulted in a reorganization of the life-saving staff, 

 including the adoption of appropriate dress and daily drill. These 

 are steps in the right direction, but it is suggested that the change 



