264 
PARK AND C EM ET ER Y. 
This general service must also include 
the regular maintenance work necessary to 
keep such grounds in serviceable condition. 
We have, therefore, under this form of 
service, provided for all such things as 
a part of the recreation program which 
the laws of nature have mapped out for us 
to follow. 
I am, and always have been, a strong 
advocate of making public parks the free 
recreation grounds of the people with as 
few restrictions as possible. I mean all the 
people. Parks are for rest as well as ex- 
ercise. By all means let us provide for 
I believe it is possible to draw a line 
between what we may call general service 
and special service in our recreation work. 
Under general service, I class all con- 
structive work necessary to provide the fa- 
cilities, namely, the acquisition of grounds; 
their improvement and equipment, so they 
may answer the purpose for which they 
have been acquired. 
use of bathing suits, caps, towels and such 
incidentals supplied by the department. 
Those who bring their own suits and 
towels have, therefore, absolute free serv- 
ice. 
Boating Service — The lakes and rivers 
under the jurisdiction of park authorities 
are, of course, the same as a highway. 
Anyone can put his boat on the water and 
use it the same in compliance with existing 
rules. Charges, however, should be made 
for the season for the use of platforms, 
racks and lockers built for the landing and 
storage of private boats and other equip- 
ment, and for their special police protec- 
tion. Boats and launches let out by the 
department should, of course, be rented at 
a nominal price per hour or trip. 
Tennis Court Service — Where there are 
a number of courts together, I believe it 
would be well to furnish the nets and 
charge a nominal fee for the use of same 
per hour. This would not only help to 
maintain the courts, but would also facili- 
tate the enforcement of the rules and pro- 
tect the rights of all comers to get the use 
of them. 
Skating and Toboggan Service — The 
renting out of skates and toboggans to the 
public is an accommodation well worth a 
nominal fee from those who use them. 
Locker Accommodations at Golf Links, 
Gymnasium, etc., by the Season — An appro - 
WADING IN LAKELET TN POPE PARK, HARTFORD, CONN. 
lawns, plantings, flower beds, roadways, 
walks, bridges, benches, tables, lights, 
drinking fountains, shelters, buildings of all 
kinds, playgrounds and their apparatus, etc., 
and we maintain them in serviceable con- 
dition. 
Under special service, I place certain ac- 
commodations and facilities which, I be- 
lieve, should not be furnished gratis and 
for which a nominal charge should be 
made. They are as follows : 
Bathing Service — The use of the bath- 
house accomodations should be free, but a 
nominal charge should be made for the 
priate charge for such accommodations, 
which are similar to those rendered at a 
private club, is, I believe, entirely justi- 
fiable. It is a question, however, in my 
mind, whether the renting per season of 
such lockers is justifiable at any fee if the 
demand for them exceeds the accommoda- 
tions. 
Refectory Service — No one, of course, 
will claim that refreshments, outside of 
good drinking water, should be furnished 
gratis, but the claim is made by many that 
such service should be rendered at cost. 
I claim that all such service should be 
-JAPANESE LOG IN HARTFORD, CONN. PLAY PARK. 
our children to the fullest extent within 
reason, but in doing so we must not over- 
look the needs and rights of the fathers 
and mothers and other grownups who are 
still among us and whose recreation calls 
for rest rather than exercise. 
On account of insufficient funds, it is 
impossible for most of our park adminis- 
trations to meet all the demands of the 
public for the numerous recreation activ- 
ities. There is almost no limit to the serv- 
ice that could be rendered if the necessary 
means were always available. Admitting 
that all service demanded is at least de- 
sirable, let us ask ourselves the question : 
Is it feasible and justifiable that the cost 
of all such service be covered by a gen- 
eral tax? Undoubtedly there is a diversity 
of opinion on this question amongst us, 
and to bring the subject up for discussion 
I express my opinion that to tax the entire 
cost of all service rendered against the 
general taxpayer is as unfair as it is un- 
necessary. I present three main reasons 
lor this contention. 
First: A large percentage of the -tax- 
payers can not and do not, for one reason 
or another, make use of all of the facili- 
ties offered and provided, and consequently 
do not derive the full benefit to which they 
are entitled. 
Second : I believe it to be an unwise 
policy to foster to the extreme the idea of 
the free use of all facilities that may be 
offered. To give everything free will re- 
sult to a great degree in the careless and 
reckless use of such privileges and will 
lessen the appreciation and value of the 
service rendered 
Third : The users of certain facilities 
can well afford to pay a small fee, and so 
help to maintain the service from which 
they receive special benefits. 
