What has happened to community recreation since the war began?

It is now in its period of greatest expansion which cannot be
compared to any other period. Reasons: shortly before the war the
American people through the press, radio, government bureaus, etc.,
became increasingly aware of their neighbors - the people next door,
and were called upon to cooperate with each other in various activities.
Prior to this he hardly gave his neighbor a nod in the morning.

Government asked us to cooperate on many, many things. People
have learned to work together and have learned to do things together
that they never had done before. This is one of the greatest things
that has come out of the war period.

Government also asked local communities to solve their ow
problems with changing population. Troops sent to different
localities by the thousands - colored and white. Recreation at the
base or camp was taken care of by military authorities. The job for
the communities was when the soldier came to town.

Some communities set up defense or war recreation committees,
realizing that the soldier came to town to do something. These committees
began to act as a liaison between camp and town. the USO was designed

_to go into communities where the comunity itself could not handle the
military load. Some of the greatest service men's centers today have
been set up by these war recreation committees - stage door canteen,
Chicago Service Men's Club, the Pier at Miami Beach - all run by local
communities with local leadership.

Ra ‘ fs people became interested in recreation for soldiers they be-
gan to realize also that recreation was necessary for their om community.
This is ‘the second greatest thing that has come about in this war period.
These people are now devoting their energies to local recreation. In

Wichita, Kansas, a war recreation committee served the military as well
as the war plant workers. $18,000 from the community chest was expended
there for the teen-age program. In Omaha, Nebr., the same type of
development took place. ;

War recreation committees became the forerunner in handling the
third great thing in this war period - the juveniles or teen-agers. —
People have suddenly become conscious that in their community are boys
and girls who ina very distinct way are often apt to break over because
they have an excess of energy - normal to adolescence - and people have |
become, worried. Juvenile delinquency Will never be eradicated by any one
program because it is caused by too many things. Recreation won't do much
for these boys and girls. Too much reliance has been placed upon the
juke boxes in the community center. This cannot take the place of home,
church and school.