The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-16
FAIRGROUNDS FOR
CHILDREN HERE
Important Work Undertaken by
Civic Improvement League
VIII Be Pushed.
LECTURE BY DR.. CURTIS
Distinguished Visitor VIII Speak
Tonight on What Other
Cities Have Done.

A movement OF great importance TO the
future welfare Of Richmond Will be dis
| Cnssed tonight ~ the Young Men
/ Christian Association Han by Dr. Henry
/ s. Curtis. secretary Of the Playground
/ Association Of America
Under the auspices OF the civic I'M
provement League. Or. Curtis VIII illus
trlte the movement being made In all
/ great cities 70 establish public play
/ grounds. The league has just begun the
! work Of establishing such grounds IN
/ various parts OF Richmond, and a s "A good
/ start IN this direction has secured DR.
/ Curtis 70 indicate what has been done
elsewhere along similar lines. No ono rs
| better qualified % speak on this subject
1 than DIT. Curtis who has a wide ac-
ouaintRnce with the needs and methods
OF operation 81 Fairgrounds all over
America The Civic Improvement League
or this city started the first playground
| in Richmond four years ago. ut Nine
teenth and Main Streets. and has sue
| cessfuily administered Il during that
time. It's success and its necessity were
proven the very FIRST year. and II Is 20
simulate a wider interest on the mart ~
an citizens that tho league has brought
1T curtis 20 Richmond at this time
ne league promises a rRre treat - an
VINO shall hear the lecture tonight. ana
cordial invitation is extended 70 ova-,-
one 20 attend.
Importance of Work.
Mr. Charles r. Cooke president 81 the
civic Improvement League OF Richmond.
said last night:
- big movement has been started in
Richmond by the Civic Improvement
League 70 establish fairgrounds a.
various parts OF the city and IN So
doing they are simply endeavor4ng 70
place Richmond along IN the class OF
other cities in this regard. The nlsv-
GROUND Is p great educational uronosi
,loh. -he OLD saying that boys VIII be
boys is just az true as Il ever was Tho
NlVlc Improvement League believes that
'he city boys ike TO 60 swimming Just
rs much as they ever did. and they he
heNe that places should be provided for
these boys 10 give them this heslrhfi1
recreation All the big cities ara taking
necessary steps 10 care for the youths
OF the city who arc growing into man
hood and viii make future citizens
The influences which has been exertad
over these children through Fairgrounds.
swimming pools wading pools and
flower gardens has been demonstrated
beyond peradventure 20 be Of immense
value. As n good. healthy starter in
this movement the Civic Improvement .
League secured the services " DR.. Henry
:. Curtis. who was supervisor or the
playground In Washington and IS also
secretary 81 the Playground Association |
Or America Dr. Curtis will bring 20
Richmond tonight pictures % play
grounds throughout the United States
and IN giving his illustrated lecture ~
the Y. NJ Q. A Hall will show exactly
what has been accomplished. Richmond
VIII no doubt turn ont large and fash
ionabe audience to honor pr. Curtis on
this occasion. and show her appreciation |
~ this great educational movement J
The lecture VIII begin promptly AT %
o clock. Seats ara free and all those
Interested in children and the upbundinc
o. this city are invited 10 attend"
4 generation ago tho conditions ans
environments Of child life were not like
those prevailing IN all large cities to-day
Now the city population IL crowded into
narrow streets lined with towering build
ings where the dust-iaden air ssnothers
Size plav instinct that is the birthright OF
every child.
The city fathers would preserve tho
beauty or the city by some attempts At
open spaces here and there. but these are
dotted with warnings to keep or the
grass. until famous Eastern visitor
has inquired whether the people Of Amer
ica worship grass
TILE public playground is an educational
institution. The civic Improvement
League believes that the boys of TO-DAY.
given half "a chance. viii develop into &c
Tine men as any this country has pro-
ouc'd The report of the Commissioner
a. immigration shows that over one mil
lion foreigners came to our shores last
Wear one out Of every hundred citizens
Is foreigner Of less than a wear. and
nearly this entire body has congregated
~ the most congested portion Of the
cities. Richmond has her share
Not only are the Fairgrounds a present
dav necessity FOR the lower part of the
citv The statement was publicly made
fcw days ago that IN the section be-
tween Leigh Street and the river from
It's Capitol 20 Lee Monument. there is
nor n vacant lot on which party Of bows
can have a game os ball The CITY has
grown. Two annexation ordinances have
pushed the boundaries westward until
u"w the bows OF even the west portion
1' the city have 10 20 several miles for
an open space IN which 20 get the exer-
cise their growing bOdieN demand