New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-16
LEAvENs THE NEIGHBoRHooD.
A Public Park Not Only Influences Children,
but Homes as Well.

The Fairgrounds which the city provides for the
children of the poor are usually regarded
cellent things for giving the little folks a good
time and keeping them out of mischief. but few
have any idea of the part they really play in the
life of the city
A properly conducted playground leavens the
whole neighborhood" says Mrs. Caroline A. Crum-
ley, of Hamilton Fish Park. and the Fairgrounds
of the city even more than the public schools are
making American citizens out Of the foreign pCpu-
lation OF the tenements.'
These children have never known what free
dom before. Neither have they known
what respect for law was. Order is maintained in
the tenement districts only by the of the
cop. but TIE playground the children learn
that laws exist for the good OF the community
and obey them willingly. They learn. in fact that
liberty is not license, and that is the valuable
training they could get for American citizenship"
In some Of the Fairgrounds there appears to tho
visitor 10 be law than liberty. and there is a
painful mechanicalness about the play. Unsuper-
vised playing has been found be Of the ques-
ton ana how to supervise without checking spOn-
taneity is a problem which has not always been
satisfactorily solved In Hamilton Fish Park the
combined spontaneity and good behavior are
remarked by all corners. The children regulate
their play. to great extent. During the
crowded hours there is always girl in charge Of
each swing. or "teeter-saw,' and in return for
counting the swings that each girl takes and d.
recting her vacate in favor OF the next girl in
the line at the end OF the prescribed number, she
allowed !
herself. This works very we'll a rule but occa-
sionally girl succeeds I'm getting hold of swing
out Of her Then there is appeal 10 Miss
CrumIey but she frequently declines TO interfere
why did you let her get ahead Of you?" she
asks after listening 10 the complaint Of the in
jured party You should stand up for your rights.
This useful lesson tbe little girl probably lays
heart. and the next time 1t easy to get
ahead OF her
The playground has had 4 far reaching effect
CHI md hay-e4
to the interest Of the homo life in giving the chill
dren something to tell their parents when they go
home.
My children never used to talk at home" said
one mother. Now their tongues all the
time
Another notable effect is that the children. both
boys and girls get home TO their evening meal in
time and snow little inclination to run the streets
afterward
They get so tired and hungry in the playground
that they are glad eat and go bed" Miss
Crurnley says. OF course they had their play
before but it different. 1t excited them and
did not make them healthily tired. For instance.
they didn't even know how to run when this play
ground was one foot before mao ndtber and any sort
OF randi progression through the streets meant
lodging under horses heads. avoiding the tF0iIey
visitor OF course II probably doesn't seem worthy
OF remark. but 10 me one of the most gratifying
things about the pIaSsIouhd Is 10 see tue ch''"o'
.Tbev are greatly changed too in other re-
eScitaile lust like wild ducks and geese Now they
can enjoy their play without getting wild about H.
and II is quite wonderful to them standing in
line waiting for their turn at swing 'teeteF-
saw. g.
rrnnrds are guides philosophers and friends 10
the whole neigEhorhood- Not only tho children. but