J. Robert Rossman
Assistant Director

RECREATION IN THE STREETS

"A Playground at the doorstep of your Citizens"

By J. Robert Rossman

THE OAK PARK RECREATION Department has been in operation for over fifty years (1921-73). A major objective throughout its development has been providing recreation facilities and programs within each neighborhood. This concept was renewed in 1967 with the construction of three new neighborhood centers and the remodeling of four older centers.

A major goal for 1972 was to accelerate the impact, centers were having on their neighborhoods by increasing the neighborhood's awareness of the facilities, programs, and personnel. Several programs were tried with varying degrees of success. One program, "Recreation in the Streets" was overwhelmingly successful and consistent with our original goal. It required the involvement of the neighborhoods and their cooperation with the recreation center staffs.

The concept of "Recreation in the Streets" was very simple— three leaders from a neighborhood recreation center would visit a block within their service area once a week for the seven week summer program. They would conduct a recreation program using the street area, thereby offering relief to two of Oak Park's needs. One was our street rich and park poor position. "Recreation in the Streets" temporarily added areas for recreation by using the street as a recreation resource rather than a purveyor of traffic. The second was our objective of taking programs into neighborhoods and serving more residents. "Recreation in the Streets" accomplished both of these objectives.

METHOD OF DELIVERY

Once it was decided to have the program, we became concerned with the delivery system. Was it necessary to purchase mobile recreation units? Could the program operate effectively without them? After investigating delivery systems, one conclusion was reached. The single most important factor to any successful recreation program is professionally trained staff. Good planning and professional leadership cannot be replaced by mobile monsters of steel filled with trinkets and slogans about instant recreation. After experiencing

Recreation in the Streets began with a parachute activity. Many children came
out of their houses still munching breakfast to join in the fun.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 4 March/April, 1973

Trike races were popular with preschoolers.

A water sculpture provided a cool relief from the morning heat.

one summer's operation, we remain convinced that a well-trained professional staff is the key to a successful program and that a mobile program can effectively operate without expensive mobile units.

Once a delivery system was agreed upon, our next concern was a method for selecting blocks to visit. A system was developed requiring neighborhood residents to initiate the program by submitting a request for service to the Recreation Department. Each request needed the signatures of ten block residents. After all requests were submitted, the blocks to be visited were selected and notified of the date they were assigned. The criteria used for selecting blocks was the distance from existing recreation services. Blocks farthest from existing services received the highest priority.

Each morning visitation lasted three hours from 9:00-12:00. The block resident who submitted the request became our contact on the block. He was responsible for getting flyers which advertised the event distributed to other block residents three days before it was scheduled. The fact that residents were required to initiate the program and help in its operation was a major factor in its success. Of the 49 open dates during the summer, 40 were filled. Unfilled dates resulted primarily from a slow start due to unfamiliarity with the program and rain-outs.

The program activities were our final concern. We were determined to develop activities that would use the street in a unique manner so children would not be tempted to duplicate our efforts after the program and play in the street. Some of the activities used included volleyball, trike races, bike races, street hockey, scrap crafts, chalk drawing on the streets, a water sculpture, and more. Sessions ended with the leaders telling children about the dangers of playing in the streets and encouraging them to come to the playgrounds.

Costs for "Recreation in the Streets" involved one coordinator for the duration of the program, some commodities, three leaders, and thirty minutes time from one maintenance man and a jeep per morning. Total cost for these items was $2,090.00. Average attendance at each location was 56.8. A total of 2,275 residents were served during the summer at an approximate cost of $.92 per person.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Favorable community response to the program was overwhelming. All of the blocks visited asked to be included in next year's schedule; some asked for a second visit during the current summer. On several occasions letters to the editor of local papers were written by supporters of the program. Some of the comments follow:

"We would like to thank the Oak Park Recreation Department . . . for doing such a good job providing a fun-filled morning last week."

"Recreation in the Streets . . . was a special treat for the children in the neighborhood."

Evaluation forms were sent to thirty-nine of the forty blocks visited. Twenty-four evaluations were returned giving us a return rate of 61 %.

All the participants felt that the program was a success and the staff was excellent. Two of the most frequent comments were "come again" and "stay longer."

We are sold on the concept of "Recreation in the Streets" as an inexpensive mobile recreation program. It will effectively place your program into neighborhoods and provide a playground at the doorstep of your citizens.

REFERENCE

Culkin, D. "Evaluation of Recreation in the Streets." Unpublished report. August 1972. (Mimeo.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 5 March/April, 1973