DESIGN OF PARK AND RECREATION AREAS 125 



an office for the leaders and a small storage room, to a structure including 

 all the features of a building of the community house type, such as a gym- 

 nasium, play room and auditorium, club rooms, workshop, toilets, lockers, 

 shower baths, office, storage room, etc. (See Plate 191, page 393; Plate 194, 

 page 396.) 



If the playground is a school site the school building might provide 

 all the facilities pertaining to the simple type of structure mentioned above, 

 and if the schoolhouse is a thoroughly modern building it would provide 

 all the indoor facilities of the community house type of structure. In some 

 large cities where school grounds are widely used for public play and recre- 

 ation purposes, it has been found desirable to erect a separate building 

 for playground purposes on the basis that it is cheaper to erect and operate 

 such a structure than to keep open the larger building. There appears to 

 be no fundamental reason, however, why in the average community a 

 school building cannot provide the necessary facilities for indoor activities 

 and needs of the children on the school playground. 



(c) Wading or swimming pools. Every playground should have a 

 wading pool, even though a small one. It will serve primarily the children 

 from six to ten and may be located either in the section set aside for this 

 group or in a space accessible to all three age divisions. If the playground 

 is located in a neighborhood playfield or large park it may not be necessary 

 to provide a swimming pool. In a number of cities where other swimming 

 facilities are lacking, small swimming pools, approximately 25 x 50 feet, 

 have been provided in the children's playgrounds. These pools may also 

 be used as wading pools by partially filling them during certain periods. 

 If possible they should be located in close proximity to the playground 

 building (otherwise simple dressing facilities should be provided). (See 



pages 353-359-) 



(d) Fence and plantation space. The entire playground should be 

 fenced with a strong woven wire or iron picket fence. The fence serves to 

 aid in the management of the playground, protects apparatus and planta- 

 tions around border, and gives the playground area a distinct identity. 

 Anyone who has had experience in trying to organize and conduct activities 

 or enforce discipline on a playground where the children could run out or 

 enter at any point they desired, or who has the care of unprotected equip- 

 ment, readily appreciates the absolute value of an adequate fence about a 

 playground. 



The fence, if the space is large enough, should be set far enough in from 

 the outer border to allow an ample planting space entirely around the play- 

 ground. Next to the fence on the outside, vines or tall growing shrubs 

 should be set, with lower growing ones toward the outer boundary. This 



