During the mid 1930s, the City of Cleveland's administration under Mayor Burton utilized much of the WPA labor force to develop parks and recreational facilities for the public. Beyond just the economic necessity of choosing projects that did not require high costs for materials, the Department of Recreation was operated under the premise that it was the government's obligation to provide recreation facilities to a public finding itself with increased amounts of free time. The development of these spaces was meant to combat juvenile delinquency and provide the city's residents with a wholesome use of its leisure time - which would otherwise cause the ruin of both children and adults. The original Children's Area at Brookside Zoo, constructed by the WPA in 1937, was heavily damaged by vandals before it could officially open. | Source: Images courtesy of the Cleveland Metroparks ZooDownload Original File
