The sun., 1897-11-09
SITES FOR SMALL PARKS.
RECOMMENDATION OF MArOR
STRONG'S IDVIsORT COMMITTEE.

STRONG'S IDVIsORT COMMITTEE.
AFTER DEMONSTRATING the beneficial Resuits OF
the su,nii Parks Already Opened. tho Conn
siittse suEEeats sites for Mnn, New Ones
In This city Below firiy.ninth street.
The report Of the Advisory Committee on Small
Parks, appointed by Mayor Strong last June.
was handed to the Mayor yesterday. The com
unittee consists of Abram $. Hewitt. Chair
man; Dc witt J. Scligman, John u. Devins.
Myer s. Isaacs. James J. lIigglnson. William II.
Stewart. Joseph ID. Bryant, with Chsc!os C.
Wilson, President OF the Health Board, and
Samuel Mcmillan. President of the Park Board.
ex-ofiicio members, and Jacob A. Riis, Secretary.
Tho committee has held frequent sessions. and
had the assistance OF the Health and Police de-
pRrtments in its work. The report says that
the committee is convinced by the marvellous
Improvement in the neighborhood of tho new
email parks hat she failure to provide for tho
reasonable recreation OF the people, and especi.
ally for Fairgrounds for tho rising generation,
has been the most efficient cause of tho growth
of crime and pauperism.
In regard to the law known tho Park act,
passed in 1897 and which permits the eXpendi-
turo Of $l.000.oO0 n year for the creation OF
small parks, the committee declares that tho
doubts of the park authorities on the question
OF permitting Fairgrounds in any part Of these
parks should DO dispclcd by an amendment to
tho act. Tho committee is unanimous in making
these recommendations:
81. That half IA block be taken for pm bile play
ground in Rivington street, between Goerck and
Mangin streets, adjoining the public bath. To
this the Board OF st. eet Opening and Improve
ment has already given Its assent.
80. That the block between Houston and
Stanton streets, Essex and Norfolk streets, in
which stand Grammar School No. Is and the
ProCnthcdral Mission, be taken Ter q public
park and playground. leaving the school and
mission where thoy are.
-. Thata public playground be established
on Cherry Hill. on the site OF Gotham Court
now demolished.
-. That a shore park be laid out between
East Forty-ninth and East Fifty-second Streets
on the strip OF land on the waters edge. now
used the storage of old iron.
.. That a small park be laid out on the two
west OF Eleventh avenue. between Fifty second
and Fifty.fourth streets.
G ThSt hs hsi of the BLOCK bounded By Mu
streets. be taken for public playground Tor the
Fourteenth ward.
80. That part Of a block on the line of Ninth
avenue, the site suggested being the easlern end
OF the block between Fifteenth and Sixteenth
streets, 90 taken for public playground for the
children OF the Sixteenth ward. WV
"s. That section about $50 by 200 feet at the
west end Of the block between fhirty.ffth and
be taken en- for 4 public playground.
"9; That the Propriety and feasibility of Sc
the block between Second and Third streets
Second avenue and the Bowery. DO taken into
ment without cost to the city.
TO- That the utility of uniting playground
and push;cart market. as recommended by Col.
In the Tenth ward. be carefully considered and
II approved. that the necessary legislation be
becured at the earliest possible date.
- Ii. That public playground at least 900
feet square be established at or near Grammar
School No. 81. First avenue and Seventieth
H. That a public playground at least 200
feet square be established at or near the Public
school NO. ol5 West Thirty-seventh street
on the line of the, Ninth avenue, near Fortieth
market may be combined.
Ia That the fairgrounds Of the new schools
school hours and be made the general place of
recreation for the neighborhood."
The first recommendation OF the committee
mas already been carried out and the second
will be by the present city administration but
ministration to deal with. Not the least inter
esting OF the committees recommendations is
the one advising that the Fairgrounds OF tho
new schools be thrown open to tho public after
"The longer one looks at this propositon,"
says the report, the more sensible il seems.
The schools of London long since. in large meas-
ure. opened their Fairgrounds to the public in
that now weighs upon New York. There seems
to be no good re tson why school Fairgrounds
should stand unused all the long afternoons and
evenings, every Saturday and Sunday. ana for
two whole months during the hot season. when
they are most needed; or why the city should be
put to the expense OF laying out another set OF
Fairgrounds with these available. There is even
something to be gained that is not by any means
mere sentiment. in the binding of the child to
his school by identifying It, with his play; some
thing to be gained that Will shortly appear in
the lessened expense of caring for truants.
when the boys find that their play and their
schools go together they will not want to play
hockey nearly so much as they did. From Sc
curing the playground for the pupils out of
long one, to making ii the general neighborhood
playground. Every roof playground may. with
slight expense in the planning, be made into q
roof garden. The question OF supervision need
that the police will be glad to attend to that
their share OF it. In the past they have some.
times been compelled to establish roof patrols in
defence against the roughs whom the street
trained TO rebellion against law and order. This
kind of roof duty would bc relief sure to be
gladly welcomed"
results of the opening OF small parks are inter
esting. All agree that the existence of juvenile
rowdyism and turbulence is due. in large
measure. to lack OF playg ounds. The Captain
Hook Gang is gone. II has disappeared since
the establishment OF the Corlears Hook Park. :"
The Captain Of the Elizahcth street station snys:
na he % establishment ,S 81 Mulberry Bend PaTk is
slowed on the people OF this precinct as 1t eradi
Gated one of the worst blocks in the city. which
was the homo OF horde OF the most deprnved
and debased classes male and female OF all
nationalities. Since the eradication OF this
block the whole neiRhborhood has taken a
change. and decidedly for the better"
THE REV. DR. MEREDITH QUITS