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Recreation Officers, or 'Rec Assistants', like this one, monitor the playgrounds on a regular basis. They can be identified by their uniform of baige khakis and green jackets bearing the Rec Dept. insignia. There are 12-13 on staff during the winter and 20-25 during the summer when school is out. Many of the rec assistants are young middle-class white kids (over the age of 18) who reside in the neighborhood. This one hails from Brooklyn, but his father works for the community's main office. They are responsible for opening and closing the playgrounds in the morning and evening when it gets dark and for conducting "residence checks" to keep non-community residents out of these private playgrounds. Each assistant must answer to the three recreation supervisors who communicate with them via walkie-talkies. Each has his/ her own set schedule and will travel between playgrounds, entertaining and playing with the little kids from time to time. |
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