The state herald., 1900-09-07
A BOON TO THE POOR.
NETWORKS DOWNTOWN PARKS
Are Great Bencat to the Health and
Morals of Children in the Tenement
House Districts. a.i6 fg

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 II full square on Am
sterdam avenue, between SiXty-eighth
and SiNty-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 are 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, ana 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
TINS simple way cannot be eXuggerat-
Ell. 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 a benevolent activi-
ty In other directions quite as valuable.
In many cases where II Is possible,
school yar,is nave been utilized as tenn
porary Fairgrounds. In some eases
the owners of vacant lots that are
available for such purposes have given
them free. and In n few instances rent
has been paid. The attendance nj
these Fairgrounds last summer was
over 100000 children. and this year
the total will Jbe much larger. Last
year the total expense paid by the
Board of Education was $4,000.
plan of the Recreation League for
next year calls for the erection of n
rooficss amphltheater at Seward park
that Will seat 1000 people. to be used
for band concerts. athletic tourna-
ments and similar out of-door enter
tainmcnts for the benefit OF the tene-
ment-housc population In that section.
The space beneath the seats is TO he
utilized for dressing. training and bath
rooms, and the amphitheater will be an
out-of-door gymnasium, where the
pride and zeal of students of physical
culture can be stimulated by Compel
tive contests, and the presence of spec
tators.
Hamilton Fish park. the last acquire
mcnt was secured by the condcmna-
tion and destruction of one of the most
unwholesomc and dilapidafed blocks of
buildings In the city. II contains an
entire block. and cost S3.OiJ.IGI upon
the appraisemeni Of board of com
missioners appointed by the court.
Another new and commendablc en-.
ierprlsc just ripcnipg Is boys club,
for the benefit OF boys between the
ages OF twelve and tweniy-one, who
are earning their own living: to keep
them out of saloons. billiard rooms aud
worse places: to provide them an oppor-
tunlty 10 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 u boy must show good
moral character pay an Initiation fee
OF 81, and dues Of . cents week. The
club began few years ago with six
members. and now has nearly 700. II
has occupied rented quarters NJ 125
81. Marks place. but before another
year VIII bc able 10 move into n 500
600 building. as fine aud 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. VIII accommodate
double the present membership. ana
give them gymnaslnms. swimming
pools, lecture room. libraries and
reading rooms, recreation rooms. bill
Infl rocns. n restaurant. ana all the
convenlences ana comforts of well.
arranged club. for . cents week.
Chicago Record.