THE WHY OF PARKS 3 



riding in large parks. These and other forms of recreation go far toward 

 making life worthwhile under the unnatural conditions of living in modern 

 cities and communities. 



ALL-ROUXD PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT DIFFICULT 

 UNDER MODERN CONDITIONS 



All-round physical development is extremely difficult for children and 

 adults in modern city life. In common with the young of all animals, 

 children need a tremendous amount and variety of physical exercise in the 

 open air and sunlight. There is scarcely a city of any size in the United 

 States today that has adequately taken care of this most fundamental 

 need of children. 



The chores incidental to the daily acts of living in and around the 

 homes in which all members of the family participated and which bore a 

 vital relation to physical development have very largely gone from the 

 city home. Walking and horseback riding, two of the best forms of physi- 

 cal exercise, have practically become non-existent as a habit among the 

 majority of people. Only two generations ago the majority of people 

 (71.4 per cent) lived in a rural environment, and the conditions of life 

 were such as to demand a great number of physical activities using the 

 large muscle groups of the body. 



With the coming of the industrial revolution which substituted 

 machines for the hands, minds and bodies of men and women, and for a 

 time for many children as well, this all-round physical activity was cut 

 off from vast numbers of people. The tending of machines frequently uses 

 none of the big muscles of the body, a use vitally necessary to physical 

 health, but instead utilizes excessively the finer muscular and nervous 

 coordinations. Much of this labor is performed under conditions lacking 

 sunlight and an abundance of pure air. The only hope for the preserva- 

 tion of normal physical health in the majority of adults tied to machines 

 and to office and professional work is sufficient leisure to engage in physical 

 activities of an all-round nature. 



In modern urban communities these opportunities for both children 

 and adults can best be provided in open areas of different types which 

 allow a wide range of physical activities in the form of plays, games, sports, 

 hiking, riding, gardening, although some of these needs may be met by 

 types of indoor facilities found in gymnasiums and community centers. 



THE CONTRIBUTION OF PARKS TO CREATIVE RECREATION 



In the building of cities man did immeasurable harm not only to the 

 physical development of mankind but to the qualities and powers which 



