Supplementary material,Lawrence, page 5

‘Supplementary material—- Section C :
IV. (¢).Manner in which the war effort is or may be impeded by
lack of sufficient service,

People living in congested areas and under conditions made
abnormal by war industries and troop concentrations suffer both
physically and mentally if deprived of adequate facilities for
iiesure-time activities, The statement applies not only to the
personnel employed in the war industries and to the men in uniform;
it is equally applicable to the civilian population which, handicapped
by increased social and financial responsibilities,and by radically
changed habits of living, serves the needs of those special groups.

The list of available commercial and non-commercial
facilities for recreation in Lawrence discloses the fact that all
must have maximum use if social controls are to operate, Maximum use
can be achieved only by careful planning and ample leadership, by
judicious spending for equipment and its repair and care, and by
making certain activities self-supporting on a fee basis when funds
are not obtainable otherwise, A recreation program, however, which
is wholly self-supporting is seldom successful and never a very
gracious one, Local schools, churches, and civic groups are waking
every effort to help meet the emergency, and the university officials
are more than willing to cooperate in every wa y possible, But, in
the final analysis, the majtor responsibility rests upon the city |
government, The morale of the service men, the ordnance workers
and civilians will depend in no small measure on the degree to which
all can be enabled to live as effective citizens of the community,
whether their residence is temporarp or permanent in character,

 

Supplementary material-- Section D,.
IV. (e) Recreation facilities for negroes;

With the withdrawal of WPA on January 25, 1943, the city
will be foreed to close the two colored centers now maintained unless
funds for their continuance ean be secured, One center is held in
Lincoln school, the only separate elementary school for colored
children in the city. A second center, near the center of the city,
has been housed in part of a building rented by the county commissioners
60 clock hours of leadership each week have been given these centers
by WPA employees,

Since the last census showed that the colored people
constitute 10.2% of the population of Lawrence, it is imperative to
provide facilities for their use and assign adequate leadership,

If responsible leadership can be provided, the school center can be
continued; it would help materially even if a second center is not
possible, There is a large gym, kitchen facilities, and ample play
space surrounds the building, Space for a second center or for
special festivities will have to be rented or otherwise provid ed,
since the county commissioners are not renewing their lease which
expires January 1, 1943, |