Supplementary material, Lawrence, page 2

e, Community aspects of recreation program;

In the opinion of the recreation committee, it is thought
to be imperative that a community recreation program be preserved.
The city program has been déveloped as a logical outgrowth and an
expansion of the summer program for school children sponsored by the
local branch of the American Association of University Women, by the
Parent Teacher Council, and by the Board of Education, The fact
that the city of Lawrence has only recently become aware of its
civic responsibility for maintenance of a recreation program (the
mayor's committee was appointed less than two years ago) has a very
decided social significance; an interruption of community planning.
for an interval would seriously retard progress, At present there is
no legislation enabling the imposition of a mill tax for recreation
purposes and, until such legislation can be secured, the only legal
available source of funds other than park maintenance is a small
sum allocated for the purchase of capital equipment and for the
‘Maintenance of recreation facilities now owned by the city.

It is not an insignificant fact, from a éommunity point of
view, that the non-council members of the mayor's committee are all
three members of the executive committee of the recreation council
which administers the summer program for school childrens (1) the
director of the program the first summer and an active advisor since
that time; (2) a member of the Board of Education, a man whose hel
has been invaluable and whose civic vision is unquestioned; and (3)
the chairman of the executive committee, The advisory members are,
in addition to the incumbent city recreation director, the superin-
tendent of schools and the head of the Univ. of Kansas physical
education department, The personnel was chosen with the deliberate
intention of coordinating the efforts of all groups concerned for
and interested in the development of a well-rounded recreation program,
The wisdom of the choice was evident when, without duplication of
effort or financial outlay, all groups cooperated in providing rec-
reation facilities during the summer months just passed and in
organizing a successful program for the service men after plans were
announced for the establishment of the naval training unit, It would |
be short-sighted to disregard the possibilities for coordinated
effort which now exist.

f. Available facilities;

Although Lawrence is now faced with the problem of provi-
ding recreation for large numbers of new people, the majority of whom
are active young adults, their widely varying recreational interests
ean be met fairly well with available facilities, The city owns a
Community building which lends itself admirably to recreation needs,
since it has a large basemeht game room, and an auditorium with a
stage, a well equipped kitchen, and an archery and rifle range; the
auditorium serves as a gymnasium or ball room as oceasion demands, At
present the building's use is also extended to the rationing board,
the CPT, Home Guard, draft board, Red Cross, Bundles for America and
similar groups, but recreation activities have had ample space to date.

Park space, approximately 40 acres, is not adequate, but
the colored population has its own ball park and there is also a
lighted diamond in both the north and south sections of the city.
Each of the six elementary schools has ample play space and excellent
equipment. ( A special section on Board of Education contacts is
attached-- See Section AA). :