The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-14
MAKE STRONG
PLAYGROUND
PLEA
Commissioners Hear Petit
ton s. Spokesman Raps
Narrow minded People

A delegation of young men from the
Hill section, including representatives
of the Third, Thirteenth and Four
tenth wards, appeared before the
Playground Commission, in City Hall,
last night, and pleaded for the opening
of the various Fairgrounds under the
control of the Board of Education. The
commissioners promised to look into
the matter at once, and stated that
they had been inspecting several sites
in the populated section of the Hill.
Frederick w. Canning, spokesman,
pointed out the necessity of the play
grounds and tie. numerous benefits
which would be derived.
I'VE can't understand" he said,
why the finance committee of Com
mon Council could appropriate thou
sands of dollars to the Board of Edu-
cation to be used in purchasing play
grounds, and then turn a deaf ear to
the plea of this commission.
I'm the estimation of the young peo-
pie of this great city we feel that the
Playground Commission is one of the
most important. If it received the
proper support of the Common Coun-
ell, the pulpit, financiers and others
II WOOlQ nc dDIt W dSSOAllpiAoAA OCltCt
results than n other body.
"Give us Fairgrounds on which we
could play basketball. practise base
ball, handball and perform gymnastic
feats, and the candidates who take the
Civil Service examination for the fire
and police departments will in the
future have higher averages. 1t will
develop young America Inc bring up
cur health record. 1t will help toward
breaking up corner-loafing crap-shoot-
ing and the youths attending the cheap
theatres.
''There Is no license whatever for the
Board of Education spending thousands
of dollars annually for Fairgrounds to
have them in use but two months a year
for a few hours daily. Let the city en-
deavor to nave them Illuminated by sew
eral arc electric lights and open them
on Sunday for q couple of hours, and we
feel sure that the favor will not be abused,
but appreciated.
''If this is done the police will not be
compelled to go out In plain clothes IN
Sunday afternoons to arrest the boys and
young men for minor offenses. The police
Judge will not have to spend any time
listening to excuses the following day,
and last, but not least, the aged and per-
haps poor parents or widowed mother will
not be compelled to go down in her pocket
for a s. or SO fine to keep her son out. of
Jail.
"Narrow-minded people today are shout
ing that Fairgrounds are unnecessary, but
they fail to recall that when they were
boys and girls it was not necessary for
them to walk miles and to the outskirts of
the city to enjoy. themselves. At that
time lots were numerous and the law
makers not so severe.
1T is true we have several county parks
such as Branch Brook. Weequahic, West
Side and others, but it is necessary to get
permits weeks in advance at times, and
it is My during certain times of the year,
and If your team is not equipped with uni
forms they must be satisfied with any
field given to them.
ITO play in the county parks it is neces-
sary in the spring of the year to wait until
the grass grows, and wait several days
after each heavy rainfall and they are
never open on Sundays. In brief, we in
the centre OF the city derive little or no
benefit from them"
The speaker complimented Commission
ers Jaglc, Aaronson and McKiernan and
Secretary Clifford for the fight they are
making. and concluded by stating that he
could write a book which would give
reasons why this city should have play
grounds throughout the year open at sea-
sonable hours each day and night.
The commissioners all appeared inter
ested and asked that the committee appear
before them again in the near future.
Secretary Clifford announced hat Hahne
& Co. donated a handsome American flag
to be u~nfurled at the new Fairgrounds IN
South Canal street.
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