CHAPTER XVI 

 PARK SANITATION 1 



In general community sanitation park and recreation areas are in 

 themselves very important factors. They let in sunlight and fresh air. 

 They freshen the air by growing things. Moreover some of the most beau- 

 tiful and useful park and recreation areas have been created from miasmatic, 

 mosquito breeding areas or areas made unwholesome by cheap, unsanitary 

 housing, garbage dumps, factory wastes or sewer-laden streams. 



The universal achievements of park and recreation departments in 

 making it possible for millions of the people to rest or to engage in enjoy- 

 able activities in the open air in shade or sunlight or at night time; and 

 in the redemption of unwholesome, unsanitary areas within cities and their 

 environs warrant their being ranked as sanitary agents of first importance 

 in community life. In fact they are so regarded by all health and sanitary 

 authorities. However, wherever people congregate sanitary problems inevi- 

 tably arise, and recreation areas, in spite of their own intrinsic worth as 

 sanitary factors in community life, are no exceptions. 



SANITARY PROBLEMS WITH WHICH PARK AND RECREATION AUTHORITIES 



HAVE TO DEAL 



Among the sanitary problems with which park and recreation author- 

 ities have to deal may be enumerated the following: (i) Water supply; 

 (2) Disposal of waste, sewage and refuse; (3) Pest control, mosquitoes, 

 flies, etc.; (4) Dust control; (5) Weed control; (6) Sanitary care of various 

 kinds of recreation facilities such as: (a) Sand courts; (b) Wading pools; 

 (c) Swimming pools; (d) Refreshment stands and restaurants; (e) Camps, 

 family camps, organized camps, tourist camps, etc.; (/) Buildings used for 

 recreation purposes. 



WATER SUPPLY 



Wherever park and recreation areas are so located that access can be 

 had to the community water system the problem of water supply for human 

 consumption and for recreative purposes is of comparatively easy solution. 

 Many park and recreation areas throughout the United States are so located 

 that access to a community water system is not available. Thus park and 

 recreation areas located in rural districts (tourist camps, organized camps, 

 family camps, forest park reservations, rural picnic parks, forests used for 



1 Much of the material in this chapter was prepared by George C. Dunham, M.D., Dr. P.H., D.T.M. &H., 

 Fellow, A.P.H.A., Major, Medical Corps, United States Army, and originally appeared in "Camping Out 

 A Manual on Organized Camping," published by Macmillan Company, New York. 



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