The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-14
WANT SITE FOR
ATHLETIC FIELD
Suggested That City Give Speed
way in Byrd Park for This
Object.
MONEY TO BE RAISED
Necessity for Such Place for the
Boys and Young Men Of
Richmond.

An organization to further the cause
Of giving Richmond an athletic Geld
wherein all amateur sports may be played
with free hand by the boys and young
men OF the city and by visiting amateur
teams Will be formed within the next feyv
days. and tho hearty cooperation Of
many prominent and public spirited men
is assured The idea Of this Organization
viii De TO have the city furnish a lot. as
has been done By many other cities. the
money TO put the grounds into good shap,.
60 be raised by the organization. Az a
site the centre Of the old speedway in
Byrd Park has been suggested.
Mr. Powhatan James. who has been
prominent IN educational circles. IN an
Interview Yesterday. said.
All work and no play makes Jack a
dun boy The Times Dispatch some
months ago saw the virtue in this old
adage, and wisely proposed the construc-
uon Of one or more nov athletic parks
i'm the city q Richmond The paper was
right Richmond needs IA up-to-dAte park
for baseball football and track team
work IL needs park that belongs 20 the
public. Q. place where the amateur leagues
Industrial leagues. boys leagues and coll
lego leagues can get out IN Gods fresh
air and play their games. develop their
bodies and incidentally become better
mond along this line consist Of the Broad
Street park. and certain vacant lots scat
tered over the city. u Is needless to speak
90 the amateurs and schools concerning
the drawbacks TO each Of these for IN
the first instance they know that Il is
next thlng 20 impossible for anybody
except professionals or the large college
teams 20 secure the Broad street park
for "A given date. Why2 ASK the manage
mcut. And when they play on the vacant
lots there are always many objections
made by tho nciShbors and frequently
complaints lodged with the authorities.
suppose certain philanthropic and pub
lic-spirited men We're 20 make a propo-
sitlon TO the city OF Richmond something
Ike this. You own property in the West
End Of the city, which would make ideal
sites for the best athletic grounds in the
south VIII you furnish the grounds II
we VIII furnish the money 10 put these
grounds in perfect shape for all sorts q
field athletics wouldn't there be q
howl OF delight from the thousands u
men and boys IN Richmond who love
outdoors games. and who have absolutely
no decent place to play them. II such q
question were to be asked. answered in
the affirmative and acted upon?
Within the past four days the writer
has talked with the managers and repre-
sentatlves Of several amateur baseball
=
dozens OF business and professional men,
students at the various schools and col
lcges. labOrinR men. newspaper men. city
officials and others. and without a single
exception they have hailed the IDEA with
the utmost enthusiasm. A group OF gem
! tlemen interested I'm this matter met
and visited the various possible sites in
the city one afternoon last week. and We're
delighted with the prospect. Undoubtedly
the best site available IS the one proposed
by The Times Dispatch some months ago
e. - the centre Of the old speedway in
Byrd Park. II IS already fairly level and
comparatively little capital would nave 10
be expended 10 make Of IL a first class
athletic field. Such a ground would en-
tice crowds 81 people to Richmond who
/ otherwise would not visit the city. Many
Northern colleges would be able to uti-
/ lie Richmond "a winter training quar-
/ ters. ana add considerably 10 the city's
l revenue"
An organization to further the cause
will be formed within the next few DAYS.