Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-27
PLACE OF RECREATION
Playground for Children in
Southwest Washington.
SUCCESS OF VENTURE
INTEREST IN sUcH,MEANs OF AT
FORDING AMUSEMENT.
Model Gardens Cultivated by Little
People-Needs of Other Sec
tons of City.
SUCCESS OF VENTURE

old "Coxey's Army lott on NJ street be-
tween 9Th and 7th streets, which was used
partially for the storage of stone and build
ing material, was made available by the
Commissioners, and it's size makes 1t pos
sible to lay out within the Enclosure base
ball diamond in addition to establishing the
mechanical apparatus suitable for such an
institution. Large swings see-saws, trav-
cling rings, teeter ladders, etc, have been
installed, and the appreciation of the boys
has been manifested by their coming In
such numbers as to demonstrate the In
adequacy of the present accommoda TONS
There are within the new grounds four
swings, one teeter ladder. one horizontal
bar, six travelling rings, two see-saWs, one
inclined ladder, which is opposed against
a set of sliding poles, one giant stride and
the sand box. All of these are crowded
daily with children, ranging In age from
five to fifteen years, and they indulge IN the
amusements without friction, their sense
of fair play and the rights of others being
sufficient to overcome their occasional
momentary impulses to decide small ques-
tons in fistic combat. If there does de-
velop a scrap of serious import, the larger
boys take a hand and separate the bel
ligerents.
Many small girls also take advantage of
the opportunities offered in the playground,
and may be seen on the see-saws and in
dulging in the less strenuous amusements,
being attended usually by brother, who
looks after them with paternal care. One
of the most popular of the exercises the
boys indulge in on the lot is the giant
stride" There is stout beam set in the
ground, and rising about twelve feet above
the surface on top of which is fixed sort
of hub operating on ball bearings Fasten-
ed to this hub six heavy ropes
reaching to within two feet of the ground,
and having at their ends large knots.
Method Of Operating.
A boy grasps one of the ropes and takes
a short run, then leaps from the ground
and sits on knot in the rope which swings
out from the center post with more or less
momentum. according to the speed at which
the boy moves in the initiative. 1t is sell
dom that one boy uses. the stride alone. for
there is usually crowd of them, each wait
ing his turn. With six boys on the ropes at
once it is some time before the momentum
of the stride dies down sufficiently to
necessitate another impulse. This game
strengthens the muscles of the and
body greatly, and affords much more fun
for the boys than is obtained in swinging
behind wagons
The travelling rings also delight the
youngsters greatly, and it is amusing at
times to watch the smaller boys trying to
wiggle through the gauntlet of eyaSive
rings. A certain knack Is required to make
the passage successfully, and this Is quickly
acquired by most of the boys after few
trials. The see-saws are patronized princi-
pally by the smallest boys, who find them
sufficiently exciting. The teeter ladder and
horizontal bar afford the lads opportunities
for occasional displays of their ability as
acrobats. The inclined ladder and sliding
poles are often used, the youngsters finding
as much pleasure and excitement in climb
ing the fifteen-foot ladder and sliding down
the smooth poles on the other side as an AL
pine climber does in ascending and descend
ing some vast glacier.
Model Gardens Cultivated.
In one corner of the lot where the appa-
ratus is installed several model gardens
have been laid out under the direction Of
Miss Hedges and Mr.. Swingle of the Agri-
cultural Department, this being done in CO.
operation with the National Plant, Flower
and Fruit Guild, for the development of
children's gardens in various parts of the
city. There have been ten laid out SO far
and ten children of the neighborhood who
displayed interest and aptness for the work
are cultivat1ng them individually under the
instruction of Miss Hedges and Mr.. Swingle
It is hoped by the committee that citizens
Will visit these grounds and learn by OBJ
servauon what real benefit they are, and
thus realize the need of additional ones in
other parts of the city.
The need of different sections of the CITY
for Fairgrounds with harmless amusements
to occupy the leisure time of the younger
generation has been recognized by many
and several individual efforts have been
made to meet that need. The first of these
was by Mr.. C. F. Weller of the Associated
Charities, who instituted a playground in
the rear of "Neighborhood House" at 45B
N street southwest. This has been in sue
cessful operation for the past year. It is
equipped with apparatus suitable for small
children, and Is patronized principally by
them now, the large boys going to the
new grounds at 7th and M streets
Prof A. U. Craig of the Armstrong Man.
ual Training School has given a great deal
of time and energy to the planning and
arranging of Fairgrounds on a lot between
M street, Delaware avenue and 1st street
southwest, the use of which was offered
by Mr.. Bensinger Professor Craig aroused
the interest of people in the neighborhood
and induced them to erect apparatus. This
playground is for the use of colored chill
dren, of whom there is large number in
that section. Professor Craig is now en-
deavoring to secure sufficient funds to in
stall swimming pool in this location
For Oolored Children.
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey has provided
place of amusement for children at 10th
and V streets northwest. and with the CO.
operation Of the pastor Of the Swedenbor-
gian Church there, the young colored peo-
pie of the neighborhood were organized and
enabled to erect some simple apparatus
that forms the nucleus of better equip
ment to be obtained in the future.
IN case the interest OF tne public can be
sufficiently attracted to thenmovement, the
committee on Fairgrounds will establish
other Fairgrounds similafsvto the one at
18th and M streets southwest. In this d.
rection inquiries were made among owners
of large lots in different sections of the city.
and it was found that re win be possible to
obtain proper accommodations without any
trouble. -: Id,
The present equipment of the NJ street
grounds cost 5000, and the committee in
tends to install additional apparatus to
meet the necessity. Somesof the material
for this playground was donated by the
firms of Rudolph, West & Co. and Church
& Stephenson. Miss L. M. Solger gave a
double swing. '2I-o
The Fund Contributed.
The list of contributions to the public
Fairgrounds fund is as follows:
An Anonymous Friend, 5000; Mrs NJ s.
B. Forsythe, IS: H. B. F. Macfarland,
So; Miss A. c. Koerper. 81; Jno. W. Doug
lass, IS; Cuno H. Rudolph. 81; Lyman L.
Pierce, S.; DR.. VIM. c. Woodward So; C.
F. Nesbit, S.; John B. Sleman. jr.. IS; from
Neighborhood House playground fund, SOS:
w. T. Galliher, So; q. w. Grafton. SO; w.
Riley Decide, So; B. H. Warner, $40 Total,
$3.50
The committee on public Fairgrounds is
composed as follows: Cuno H. Rudolph,
chairman; John B. Sleman treasurer: Miss