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 moro 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 a few wears
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 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 a mistake
Wherever a vacant lot is available II sbouId he
used for the children to play In and If 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 he
enormous. me grounds around the new Cathedral
are shady and parklike, where trespassinr iq not
allowed These. too. could be maze uee 30 b. -, =
children as a playground. Another lot ar Nire+,,
hihll-st-' could be made into an excellent nIa,,
GROUND LOT the little children. One could 90 all
through the city south OF Observation-Disclosures
and IND few open spaces not being used for ary
purpose except to be surrounded by hideous sign
boards. Manhattan Square. which was last wear
ana all winter playground. adapted by the chill
dren Tor play facilities is to-day without the bann
children formerly to be seen there because the
landscape gardener is making the square TO pIeas
the aesthetic sense of the public
superintendent Maxwell, II he had done notbn,.
else for the children than to establish vacatIo1
schools and Fairgrounds, would deserve the bfcba.
praise The end Of all effort is the propagation ~
children; and unless continue our efforts ~
make it possible for the children 10 he tratr4 -
the playground Instead of the street We Nil
educate citizens opposed TO the guardians Of fba
law, and perhaps opposed to the law itself WIS
Fairgrounds no curfew bell is needed and IN
street viii not attract the child after afterro,
spent amid the democracy of crowded pI8y
ground pi"S
/ doubt not the testimony OF the tudees ce ~
Chldreus Court would verify the above erD,, Jts
for they constantly have brought before fba-,i >
large number of cases of children arrested for
ing in the street Never before was Ii more rdtJr
able than now to see our asphalted streets made
Fairgrounds, where boys play ball. causing vyir5,,S
TO be broken and high hats to be knoaioT iau .
shape by base hit from the bat of a lustv vo,, 81
stcr. Ii is to be hoped that Mayor McCeiI., 80
see that more Fairgrounds are practfcabIa IA
worth %hlIe H. ROOSEVELT OSTROM