The history of parks and recreation is deeply rooted in child's play. From Joseph Lee's writings about the developmental benefits of child's play at the beginning of the 20th century to the establishment of the University of Illinois's Motor Performance and Play Research Laboratory in the 1960s and 1970s, child's play has been a central focus of…

This report identifies the different settings in which summer programs for disadvantaged youth most commonly take place--schools, parks and recreation departments, community--and faith-based organizations, and child-care programs-- and examines the limitations and opportunities presented by each in building better programming. It reviews broadly…

Advocates of parks and recreation must face the challenge of seeing beyond traditional boundaries, embracing new alliances, and translating hopes into actions. Vision, strategy, and grassroots strength and strong leadership skills are critical to the future of parks and recreation. (CJ)

Excerpts from speeches delivered at a Symposium on Outdoor Recreation and Education (Washington, D.C., February 26-28, 1969).

The document offers proceedings of the First National Conference on Special Recreation for the handicapped which coincided with the dedication of White Oak Village/Mountwood Park (West Virginia), a recreational facility designed to serve as a national model for meeting the recreational needs of the handicapped. An introductory paper by E. Lehew…

While the job market for park and recreation professionals is currently tight, it should be expanded by the need for such personnel in the areas of public services. (JD)

This paper states that there are two fundamental reasons for the comparative absence of computer use for parks and recreation at the present time. These are (1) lack of clear cut cost justification and (2) reluctance on the part of recreation professionals to accept their role as managers and, consequently, to utilize modern management tools. The…

This report is divided into three parts. The first part is the opening address. It argues for the importance of constructive leisure as a human need. The essay suggests that recreation educators need to learn from such humanistic psychologists as Abraham Maslow, who have studied what man needs to achieve self-actualization. The second part of the…

Specific findings and recommendations of this study are tied to five categories which constitute the basis for community recreation services--(1) organization and administration, (2) facilities, (3) program, (4) personnel, and (5) finances. Appendices include a check list for recreation activities and a summary of laws relating to school and city…

A nature center is an outdoor education area; a parcel of natural land where people, particularly the young, and nature can meet. It can be an educational section of a state or national forest or park set aside specifically to serve the people of one or several nearby communities. These centers usually include an educational or interpretive…