New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-03
PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS.

The choice Of a site for public playground
which was made yesterday by the Board Of
Street Openings marks the beginning Of an ex-
ceedlngly interesting municipal development.
The action taken was commendabe in every
way, and first Of all because it resulted from
an intelligent, careful and wholly dlsnterested
investigation of the subject in hand. and thus
on a small SCALE though in connection with an
important matter, illustrated the manner IN
which public business ought to be transacted.
The site selected Is the small block bounded
by Rivington, Stanton, Goerck and Mangin sts.,
near the East River, and in the heart OF n con-
gested district whose inhabitants have to strug-
gle constantly for a comfortable existence
against adverse conditions. There are, unhap
PLY. many such centres of population in New
York. and possibly this is not the most necessi-
tous but it was decided after n faithful scru-
tiny that 10 other was in greater need OF the
proposed relief and that this was. on the whole,
the best place to initiate movement which 1t
Is intended to carry as far as may be desirable.
The Mayors Advisory Committee on Small
Parks, which made the investigation on which
yesterdays action was based, has obtained
large amount of striking testimony to the value
Of Fairgrounds as an element Of public tran
quillity through their Influence on the habits
and character Of those who use them. The pO-
lice were prompt and emphatic witnesses to the
fact that children, Of larger or smaller growth,
who have a suitable place in which to exercise
their bodies cease In grea. measure to misap-
propriate the streets for that purpose, and the
consequent diminutlon Of turbulence and mis-
chief Is certain and permanent In this respect
every small park which has been put at the
service Of the Juvenile population has trans
formed the neighborhoOd in which II Is situated.
The philosophy Of the matter is expressed in a
few words by the secretary Of the Mayors COM
mttee, who says: I'VE have come to the con-
"cluson which they came to abroad upon the
same evidence twenty years agO-that crime
"in all large cities is largely question OF ath-
"letics." That is ndisputably sound deduc-
ton, and It will hold good until Juvenile nature
Is very different from what 1t always has been,
and indeed from what we must hope 1t always
Will be- One of the most pathetic and depress-
ing sights in the world Is the absence Of physi-
cal exuberance in child. The young who are
fit to endure the struggle for existence and
who are destined to endure 1t with satisfaction
to themselves and benefit to all the rest, must
find an outlet for animal energy. They will
find one somewhere, and in spite Of all disad-
vantages will make that inevitable requirement |
Of nature means OF moral as well as physical |
development. Those who ere not, though they |
might be, destined to decent and useful lives, |
being subject to the same imperative law, fail
to overcome adverse conditions and degenerate |
into ruffians and criminals.
The community as whole, whose welfare de-
ponds upon the condition in which the young |
survive the processes Of growth. Is Just begin
ming to discern clearly It's responsibility for
their results. The providing Of Fairgrounds for
those who without them are absolutely certain
to expend their physical vitality in unfit ways
and places is the truest economy. The public
undertaking initiated yesterday ought to be car
RED out In a systematic manner to Its logical
conclusion.