992 PARKS 



about a very marked change for the better with respect to the attitude of 

 the people toward the care of their recreation areas. 



The campaign, however, should be carried further than the schools. 

 The preservation of the beauties and works of nature and the proper use 

 and preservation of man-made facilities designed for the upbuilding of 

 health, strength and character through joy in life, should appeal to every 

 religious and ethical leader in the community. Churches use parks for 

 picnics and active recreation areas for athletic activities. It is fitting, there- 

 fore, for the ministers to give some definite, pointed instruction to the 

 children and young people of a Sunday school, to the members of the young 

 people's society and to his congregation regarding their conduct in relation 

 to the care of properties in parks provided for their use. 



Organization for Educational Publicity. 



In the great majority of park systems the duty of organizing and con- 

 ducting educational publicity is likely to fall upon the chief executive him- 

 self for the reason that the larger number of such systems are in communities 

 of relatively small population where the general organization of the depart- 

 ment is not highly departmentalized. At the present time, even in the larger 

 communities with park departments having several functional divisions and 

 different types of specialists, the chief executive usually assumes the role of 

 educational publicist for such publicity as is secured. This is chiefly because 

 this fundamental duty has not been given the position its importance war- 

 rants among the functional services of the department, and consequently no 

 definite organization has been perfected for carrying it on. 



In all such instances the chief executive must of necessity appear per- 

 sonally before different groups to give talks and addresses, must prepare 

 copy for the press, take pictures, or have them taken, to illustrate human 

 interest features, prepare bulletins, pamphlets and annual reports, take 

 responsibility for the preparation and posting of signs and give out informa- 

 tion. But in carrying on all these possible lines of publicity every member 

 of the executive staff should give personal assistance. Thus the playground 

 supervisor should keep the executive informed of interesting happenings on 

 the playground and of special events, and may often prepare the copy for 

 such material; the secretary will give out information upon calls from 

 citizens; the director of the conservatory and the head gardener will keep 

 him informed regarding the time when floral displays will be at their best 

 and most likely to be enjoyed by the people; the director of the zoo will 

 tell him of any unusual happening which may be of special public interest, 

 and other department heads will inform him of events in their departments. 

 The reporter for the local press will, no doubt, be of much assistance in the 

 actual preparation of copy for the press if given the information. 



