New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-08
PARKS FOR THE POOR NEEDED.

RESTRAINT OF CHHDREN's FREEDOM - LACK OF
AMUsEMENTs FOR ADULrs-DEPLORABLE con
rRAsTs WITH PARKS IN FOREIGN CITIES.
TO the EdftOr OF The Frtbune
SIR: | never take a walk through the parks
Of this city and see the little children playing the hot
asphalt or sitting a wed state the benches, unfit
to play at all that do not ask: Why not let them go
upon the grass What harm the turf be trodden, and
freshness of the be somewhat lost for older
eyes good aud the trees always fresh
and green for who older 10 look upon II Is cruel
70 keep the little children from enjoying only thing
that the park attractive to them. Better-snce
al the parks the oldest of them, barren OF
trees-that the children play the sidewalks OF their
own homes where least they sheltered than IN the
giarug sunlight In damp climates grass may always he
green would be nearly green and as beautiful
n we used Of corporation money TO water II
every evening after sundown 1t. not with the
singespout hose such used to clear away heavy
mud with spray hose the kind that is used in the
parks Of Paris There the little children have perfect
freedom the grass and the park officers trust 10 the
hose and 10 the nighttime 10 rectify any damage that
may ARISE from IT,
What are all our parks fort To benefit the people and
to beautfy city. BIZ; they 10 benefit the people
rs they should do. they one-half as beauti-
ful as they ought 10 be. We should have host
more OF shade them, and whole clns-
tiers Of shrubbery. And why have all the
beautiful flowers been taken away Do we not know
that hundreds who used ooA upon them never came
90 near flowers esew 1erel The flowers in the parks
were grateful the withered ones in many
tenement And the low iron ratings. with hedge and
vine growing within and i6aning upon them. where
theyi Surely it not the peoples will that they
should be removed for everywhere we hear their re-
mOval depOred. A low railing with hedge Is one OF
parks chief charms Let us have ours back What
stranger has soOured in London has not been sur
prsed and grieved at the locking of the parks there
Parks just in the neghborhOod where such grateful
refuge needed most have counted II Of these in the
immediate vicinity Of the British Museum They ad-
uiraby kept scarcely entered, since they be-
long individual property owners have seen in the
hot Summer days hungryeyed men and women and
chi gaze Oneincy through the raings upon the
green til my heart has ached that the city thai ~ re
ported 70 spend sometimes - 100000 year in religious
charities should be- christian enough 10 dispense with
some iDtemperate penances and do more eVen-handed
But we in the New World, where all rghtdoers have
equal opportunities really labor more than any other
nation 10 he strictly just and IL give all an equal chance
our fault is thai not sufficiently alive To the
civilzing, calming influences of amusements Parks,
perhaps very simple arguments in favor OF
hut these may be heaven to the Is another
beautiful beyond words 70 describe II 1t were in Lon
don IN Paris. should all flock the to
it, what the Batteryf Where the trees. after
these OF should De enormous they are scnt
and few. There no flowers; no privileges on the
grass; booths refreshments; no wooden horses
under tents swinging boats; or Punch and Judys;
nothing please the little children; nothing 10 crafty
the weared mothersOny the straight benches, and the
hot asphalt, and the dazzling sunlight God help them
all Can expect that here. in other like park,
the parent will find ealmness and rest and patience and
the little child sweet lesson and a well spring of
New-York mi ght beautiful hundred fold
even than Paris II We used our advantages Alright but
spend millions ~ make houses reach high and look
important, rather than have them low and wide, with
gardens and shrub and vine and flowers We Art taxed
ANONYMOUSLY for our parks with the result that they ap
like business marts or simple crossings for the
people 70 Tie two gentlemen who giving prone
made concerts cannot be- grateful enough but we want
more concerts; want music reach the people We
should have band In some OF our small parks every
afternoon in the week and what beautiful attraction
% great city would concerts like those Of Mnsard in
Pans be Only We have no inclosed park 10 have them