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The authority to establish and maintain playgrounds and neighborhood recreation centers may be vested in the park board or other existing body or in a recreation commission as the board of estimate and apportionment, common council, board of aldermen or corresponding legislative body, or the governing board of any such county, town or village, shall determine. The local authorities of any such municipality designated to equip, operate and maintain playgrounds and neighborhood recreation centers as authorized by this article, may equip such playgrounds and recreation centers, and the buildings thereon, and may construct, maintain and operate in connection therewith public baths and swimming pools. Such local authorities may, for the purposes of carrying out the object of such playgrounds or recreation centers, employ play leaders, playground directors, supervisors, recreation secretary, superintendent or such other officers or employees as they deem proper.