New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-10
SUaJL PARKS AND PLAYGROtNDS'

SMALL PiRhS AMI fLhi"""N'
Tho ronort of the Mayors Advisory Commit
! fee recommending the construction by the Guy
of additional small parks containing pa!
Grounds. and designating thirteen sites when
{, its oninion are especially suitable for That
r,rnose ouoht 10 DO instrumental in accom-
plshing n public Improvement OF me hisn'''
utility. 1t is not crcdltable 10 New-lork 'ha'
an urgent demand in the interest OF h'ai'"'
morality and good order has been so long neg
lected though the default may be III part en-
plalned and excused, as the committee s"s
reSts. by the fact that not until within recent
years was the city so densely Dult UP rs "
leave the children Of the poor without the re-
source of vacant lots TO play III. Inc TACT HAS
long been recognized in foreign cities that there
Is n close relation between crime ana turDuiehcc
and the lack of facilities for physical exercise.
The Young human animal is commanded 20
play by law Of nature. and can scarcel! u!
any restraint be prevented from playing II
the street is the only possible place IL VIII ~
utilized with the consequences OF danger M
novance and sturdy defiance OF police lh'erler-
encc. There begins contempt for law ana the
symbols of authority and the tendency OF such
IN incipient rebellion is strongly progressive
This is not merely a reasonable hypothesis IL
+ 4 matter of knowledge derived from close
observation of facts. We can go much fur'her
than to surmlSe that the extent Of recognized
OWLS would have been less II different condi-
tions had existed because where different con
ditions have been created the evils have been
greatly diminished. The testimony OF Inc police
on this polnt IS uniform and conclusive. In TINS
civ within n short period OF time the establish
mont of new parks has actually broken up street
gangs which had been n nuisance ana terror
10 the nelghborhoods frequcnted by them.
Possibly this is the most important consldcra-
tIon sustaining the recommendations Of the Al
ylsory Committee The death rate In highly
congcsted districts furnishes another powerful
orcument IN It's support. Narrow sclf-in'er">i
onions the community 10 provide an ample
supply of that fundamental requisite which ~
individual members. and most u all the young
viii have or else provide themselves with
harmful substitute. And there Is Il broader oh
legation Of morality which civilization cannot
shlrk without deep rcproach The committee
Is convinced that a liberal beginning can be-
made nj comparatively insignificant expense"
An outlay Of s3jOOOOO during the next few
vears-lnvoIvng an annual interest charge Of
little more that SlOOOO- would suffice for thc
LAYING ont Of the thirteen playground parks sug
gcstcd in the report. II. as * surmiscd Legs
lation Is necessary. II can doubtless be procured
without trouble. since pabllc opinion IS already
enlisted The additional recommendations of
the committee relating 10 the general appropra
ton Of school Fairgrounds 10 general use out
Of school hours Is equally sagacous The clty's
enormous Investment IN school property ought
10 be made to pay the largest possible return
In
which It's utility could be- more lcgitmaiely aug
menied.
We heartily commend the committees report
70 the municipal authorities. 10 the incoming
administration and 10 Intelligent citizens whose
influence in such a matter is always decisive
when they earnestly exert 1t.