North Park union., 1900-09-14
A BOON TO THE POOR.
NETWORKS .spowMTowMPARks
Are . Great Benent to the Health and
Morals Of Chiidrrn In the Tensmsnt
House Districts.

New York now has four tenement
house playgrounds-Seward park.
bounded by Hester. Norfolk, Division
and Essex streets; Hamilton Fish park,
bounded by Houston, Pitt, Stanton
and Sheriff streets, the most densely
populated portion of the city; Hudson
bank. between Fifty-third and Elev-
enth avenues. and a full square on AM
sterdam avenue, between Sixty eighth
and SiXty-ninth streets. All of these
have been established through the per
sistency of the outdoor Recreation
League which has also persuaded the
Board of Education to provide sum
mer recreation grounds In sixty school
districts where the children that can
not be taken out OF town for the sum-
mer can spend the days In the sun
shine, with piles Of sand to play IN.
swings. balls and bats and other SIM
pie forms OF amusement, with kinder
garten outfits for the little ones. In
this way tired mothers working In hot
rooms nre relieved from the annoy
ance and distress of fretting children,
and the latter at least get fresh air.
Awnings are provided to protect them
from the sun, cool water for them to
drink, and In many cases benevolent
people contribute money to buy milk
and crackers for the little ones. The
amount Of good that has been done In
this simple way cannot be eNaggernt-
ed. The Recreation league has re-
ceived valuable assistance from guilds
of young girls. who have raised money
TO buy kindergarten outfits and hire
attendants. to pay for milk. sand-
wiches and other refreshments. and
who have showed IL benevolent activi-
ty in other directions quite MS valuable.
In many eases where 1t is possible,
school ynr,is nave been utilized rs tenn
porary Fairgrounds. In some cases
the owners of vacant lots that are
available for such purposes have given
them free. and in few instances rent
has been paid. The attendance at
these Fairgrounds last summer WAS
over 100000 children. and this year
the total will be much larger. Last
year the total expense paid by the
Board of Education was S2S,OOO
A plan of the Recreation League for
next year calls for the erection of II
roofiess amphitheater mt Seward park
that will seat 1000 people, to be used
for band concerts. athletic tourna-
ments and similar out of-door enter
tainments for the benefit of the tene-
ment-house population in that section.
l sIu'e ptItulh lht NtHtS Is ~ Dt
utilized for dressing. training and bath
rooms. and the amphitheater will he an.
out-of-door gymnasium. where the
pride and zenl Of students of physical
culture can be stimulated by competi-
tive contests, and the presence of spec
tntors.
Hamilton Fish park, the last acquire
ment. was secured by the condemna-
tion and destruction of one OF the most
unwholesome and dilapidatcd blocks of
buildings in the city. 1t contains an
entire block. and cost S3.Oi5.4ti upon
the nppraiscment of Il board OF COM
missioners appointed by the court.
Another new and commcndable en-
terprise just ripening is Il boys club.
for the benefit of boys between the
ages OF twelve and twcnty-one. who
are earning their own living: to keep
them out of saloons. billiard rooms and
worse places: to provide them an oppor-
tunity to cultivate their muscles and
their taste for music. art and literature: /:
to afford them social enjoyment. and
develop good fellowship among them.
To join this club boy must show good
moral character, pay an initiation fee
of 81. and dues of 3 cents n week. The
club began II few years ago with six
members. ana now has nearly 700. II
has occupied rented quarters at I'D
st. Marks place. but before another
year Will be able to move into $500
600 building, rs fine and even finer
than most of the mems club In this
country. Work has already begun up
on the new building at the corner of
Tenth street and avenue A. which.
when finished. will accommodate
double the present membership. and
give them gymnasiums, swimming
pools. a lecture room. libraries and
reading rooms, recreation rooms, bill
l'ard rooIns. II restaurant, and nll the
convenenccs and comforts OF n we'll
arranged club, for . cents IL week.
Chicago Record.