New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-03
MORE FAIRGROUNDS FOR CHILDREN.
Needed to Keep Them from Trouble with
the Law, 1t Is Asserted.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: OF all the work undertaken to make good
citizens none have been more successful than the
opening OF public Fairgrounds. especially IN a city
like New-York. Here the congestion OF population
increases every year. The open lots OF few years
ago are to-day covered with apartment hotels and
business houses Those who suffer because OF this
progress are the little ones who have been deprived
Of their birthright-play With no place left for
the children to play, they have had to utilize the
streets.
With this condition has arisen a conflict between
the child and the policeman. To overcome this
dilemma Fairgrounds have been opened. and unless
they are continued and increased we will have n
source from which criminals are produced With
boys chased by the cops and more than forty
arrested in several days for playing in the streets
one can well stop to ponder II the discontinuance
Of Fairgrounds is not mistake
Wherever a vacant lot IS available II should be
used Tor the children to play in and II necessary
the city should see that the place is made clean
ana clear OF debris. This would not cost much and
the return IN building up good citizens would be
enormous. Inc grounds around the new Cathedral
are shady and parklike. where trespassinr is NOT
allowed These. too. could be maze use Of by the
children as a playground Another lot AZ Nfna+,,
ninth-st.' could be made into an excellent nIs,,
GROUND Tor the little children. One could 20 all
through the city south OF Observation-Disclosures
and IND few open spaces not being used for any,
purpose except TO be surrounded nv bidaous st.
boards. Manhattan Square. which was last wear
and all winter playground, adapted by the chill
dren for play facilities is to-day without the happ,
children formerly to be seen there because the
landscape gardener is making the square TO please
the aesthetic sense of the public
superintendent Maxwell. II he had done notbinf-
else for the children than TO establish vacation
schools and Fairgrounds. would deserve the highest
praise The end Of all effort is the propagation Of
children and unless continue our efforts 70
make it possible for the children ~ bs tref,,z -
the playground Instead of on the street we vii
educate citizens opposed TO the guardians OF tbs
law, and perhaps opposed to the law itself WIS
Fairgrounds no curfew bell is needed and tie
street viii not attract the child after afterro
spent amid the democracy of a crowded pIaJ
ground F-'''
doubt not the testimony OF the Judges of tho
Chldren's Court would verify the above reT1sri.s
for they constantly have brought before tLaD,' -
large number of cases of children arrested for
ing in the street Never before was II more r6ticS
able than now to see our asphalted streets made
Fairgrounds. where boys play ball, causing vyirCr,
10 be broken and high hats to knocked Ont -
shape by base hit from the bat of a lustv voi,ne
II is To be hoped that Mayor NTcCIe|lSn iiiI
see that more Fairgrounds are practcabIa M
worth while. H. ROOSEVELT OSTRON
NewYork City, June /, 1904