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FIELD HOUSE IN STANTON PARK; LINCOLN PARK SYSTEM, CHICAGO. 
NEW PLAY PARKS FOR CHICAGO’S NORTH SIDE 
An example of the modern tendency 
in playground development is exempli- 
fied by the playground of ten acres just 
being finished by the Lincoln Park 
Commissioners of Chicago. Hannibal 
Hamlin Park, named for the vice-presi- 
dent during Abraham Lincoln’s first 
term of office, is located in one of the 
congested Chicago factory areas. Its 
size — ten acres — is the maximum fixed 
by the Juul law, a legislative act of Illi- 
nois providing for these neighborhood 
centers, and it seems to be a size well 
adapted for the class of work for 
which these institutions are planned. In 
many respects the plant differs from 
others of similar size in the city, the 
main feature observed being that of 
grouping all indoor activities under one 
roof. The grounds, nearly square in 
shape, are laid out on a diagonal axis, 
the building forming the dominant fea- 
ture of the composition. The field 
house, designed by Perkins & Hamilton, 
of Chicago, is of oriental brick, which, 
with its green tile roof and long hori- 
zontal lines, gives an architectural ef- 
fect which is in keeping with the park 
landscape. Gymnasia occupy two wings, 
each being 42x79 feet— a size some- 
what in excess of most playground 
gymnasia, but which has proven to 
be necessary to meet the demands of 
the large classes. Adjoining the gym- 
nasia are shower baths and locker rooms 
provided with ample toilet fixtures. The 
ground floor also provides a library and 
reading room well lighted and of ample 
size. The lunch room and the director’s 
office are also on the first floor. Above 
is located the assembly hall, 40x72 feet, 
provided with stage, dressing rooms 
and check room. The stage is espe- 
cially arranged for group work and the 
necessary drop curtain, foot-lights, etc., 
to facilitate the staging of amateur the- 
atricals. Contiguous to the assembly 
hall are two club rooms, each 21 ft. x 40 
ft. A spacious observation platform 
commands a view of the grounds, pro- 
viding an unusual opportunity for the 
seating of musicians during band con- 
certs. The swimming pool is of rein- 
forced concrete, 50x150 feet, and rang- 
ing from 3 to 9 feet in depth. Bathers 
enter through a common gate, receiv- 
ing bathing suits and towels, and pass 
either to the right or left to waiting 
bleachers arranged in two sections, each 
accommodating 116 persons. Each per- 
son is provided with a separate dressing 
room. The groups enter the pool after 
passing under a shower bath and are 
given a certain fixed time in which tO' 
bathe, after which they retire to their 
dressing rooms to give place to another 
group. Three days a week are al- 
lowed to men and boys, two days tO' 
women and girls, the remaining twO' 
days being used to empty and clean the 
pool. To further aid sanitation, water 
is allowed to run through constantly and 
is tempered by an admixture of warm 
water as necessary. The ground pro- 
vides a sunken athletic field, 300x408 
feet, to be used in summer for general 
athletic sports and in winter for skat- 
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PLAN OF HAMLIN PARK; LINCOLN PARK SYSTEM, CHICAGO. 
