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TEMPORARY RECREATION COMMISSION REPORT
THE TEMPORARY RECREATION COMMISSION , APPOINTEDI' UNDER
A I LE 2 AT THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING OF MARCH , 19µp 1110 SEVELOP
IHr. SCOPE OF AND ESTABLISH AUTHORITY FOR A RECREATION PROGRAM ANA
M KE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT RECREATION
COMMISSION TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN NOT LATER THAN JANUARY I , 1948"
MAKE THE FOLLOWING REPORT
WE HAVE STUDIED "THE RECREATION COMMITTEE REPORT OF 1946",
RECOMMENDATIONS AND STAND HO OF THE NATIONAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION,
AND TOWN REPORTS . WE HAVE ALSO HAD INTERVIEWS WITH RECREATION
DIRECTORS OF COMPARABLE NEARBY TOWNS . WE AGREE WITH
( 1 ) IT WAS CONCLUSED IN THE NATIONAL RECREATION SURVEY REPORT
OF 1938 THAT THE GREATEST NEED IN LEXINGTON WAS FOR DIRECTION .
(2) IT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE NATIONAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION , A
RECOGNIZED AMERICAN AUTHORITY , THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT
IN PLAYGROUNDS AND FACILITIES A COMPARABLE DOLLAR SHOULD BE
SPENT FOR PROGRAM AND DIRECTION IN ORDER TO GET THE MAXIMUM
GOOD FROM THE AVAILABLE FACILITIES .
(3 ) A SELF-EVIDENT TRUTH -- TRAINED SUPERVISION AND SIRECTION
CONSTITUTE THE GREATEST SINGLE FACTOR IN AN ATHLETIC ANP
RECREATIONAL PROGRAMo WITHOUT EFFICIENT SUPERVISION THE
DISTRIBUTION AND USE or FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT BECOME
SISORGANIZED, THE PROGRAMS LOSE DIRECTION AND THE PARTICIPANTS
LOSE INTEREST BECAUSE OF THE RESULTING CONFUSION , WITHOUT
THE GUIDANCE OF EFFECTIVE DIRECTION , STEADY IMPROVEMENT IN
PERFORMANCE AND THE CONSISTENT DISPLAY OF SPORTSMANSHIP IN
COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS FAIL OF REALIZATION .
2 -
' L ) WE QUOTE FROM MR • J U . GARRITTY , TOWN REPORT , 194e PAGE 117
"WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIME TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO SETTING
UP A SEPARATE HEAD FOR RECREATION TI
i ) THE DIRECTORS OF RECREATION IN BELMONT , NEEDHAM AND WELLESLEY
WHO STATE THE BEST WAY TO PROMOTE pN, COORDINATE ALL
RECREATION AND ATHLETICS IN THE TOWN IS THROUGH A RECREATION
COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION
THE TEMPORARY RECREATION COMMISSION BELIEVE IN THE
FORMATION OF A PERMANENT ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROGRAM
AND RIRECT ION OF RECREATION IN THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON UNDER THE
IMMEDIATE JURISDICTION OF THE PEOPLES OF THE TOWN AS CONSTITUTE, BY
LAW . WE BELIEVE THE NEED OF SUCH A COMMITTEE IS IMMEDIATE
SCOPE
THIS COMMITTEE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
( I ) THE USE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES OF ALL FACILITIES , INDOOR
AND OUTDOOR , AT PRESENT OR IN THE FUTURE •
(2) THE DEVELOPMENT OF A YEAR-ROUND INDOOR AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL
PROGRAM FOR ALL PEOPLES OF THE TOWN . THIS WOULD INCLUDE
( A ) SUMMER PLAYGROUND PROGRAM
(6 ) SUMMER AND OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS YEAR-ROUND RECREATION
AND ATHLETICS FOR OLDER CHILDREN
( C ) SWIMMING POOL CLASSES AND ACT IVI IES .
(D ) WINTER SPORTS
(E ) WINTER USE OF GYMNASIA HALLS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES
FOR RECREATION AND ATHLETICS •
(F ) YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM OF RECREATION AND ATHLETICS FOR
ADULTS AS REQUIRED•
(3) SERVING AS A CLEARING HOUSE FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AS
TO PROGRAMS , PLANS AND USE OF FACILITIES
d
- 3 -
SECURING WHATEVER STAFF IS NECESSARY FOR CARRYING OUT TAX—
I
UPPORTED PROGRAMS
THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE A TRAINED DIRECTOR OF RECREATION
FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT THE PROGRAM THE SALARY ANP
i
DUTIES WOULD BE IN RELATION TO THE PROGRAM OF THE COMMITTEE
..)F .;MNIZAT ION
AUTHORITY
THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD OPERATE DIRECTLY UNDER THE BOARD
OF SELECTMEN • WITH A BUDGET TO BE APPROPRIATED ANNUALLY AS
DETERMINED
( B) ESTABLISHMENT
THIS COMMITTEE WOULD BE COMPOSED OF FIVE MEMBERS TO BE
APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS AS FOLLOWS TWO MEMBERS
BY THE SELECTMEN , TWO MEMBERS BY THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE , AND ONE
BY THE MODERATOR To PROVIDE CONTINUITY • NOT OVER TWO WOULD
BE APPOINTED IN ANY ONE YEAR EXCEPT THE FIRST YEAR .
IST YEAR — SELECTMEN — I FOR 2 YEARS • ( FOR I YEAR
SCHOOL — I FOR 2 YEARS — I FOR I YEAR
MODERATOR — I FOR 3 YEARS
VACANCIES WOULD BE FILLED AFTER THE FIRST YEAR , BY THE
APPOINTING AUTHORITIES FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS . VACANCIES
OCCURRING BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM WOULD BE FILLE,p BY
THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY FOR THE DURATION OF THE TERM
MEMBERS TO BE EFFECTIVE ON APRIL 15TH OF EACH YEAR .
TEMPORARY RECREATION COMMISSION
B• P. GUST INS CHAIRMAN
DR H . W. FOLEY MRS • W F POTTER
K G. PACKARD A. W• SAMBORSKI
Selectmen's Meeting June 14, 1948
Mr. Emery moved that the Recreation Committee as of June
15th, or as soon as possible thereafter, take full
responsibility for all recreation programs in the Town
and the supervision of all recreational facilities in the
Town that are now under the jurisdiction of the Park De-
partment. Mr. Driscoll seconded the motion, and it was
so voted.