New-York tribune., 1908-10-11
PLAYGROUND FOR
SUNDAY RECREATION
UP TO THE SCHOOL CON-
| UISSIONERS.
General Wingate FaUOrs Use of Ctty
Athletic Fields to Keep Young =
Men from EI Influences. 3

"shan children be forced to play in the stTeetss'
in danger Of automobiles and trolleys. or shall the
public school Fairgrounds be opened On Sunday
afternoons for innocent recreation?" is the ques-
ton a number Of the School Commissioners are be-
ginning to ask themselves The school buildings
and the property they occupy in this city COST up
to 1905 exactly SOS 975S32 % Since that time SO'-
coo 900 more added to the list or contracted
for by the city authorities And II the actual valus
of the land rather than it's cost when purchased
years ago. were computed,~rhe school plant would
probably now be worth in the neighborhood OF
G3oOOO0 Is ii enough to use this tremendously
costly equipment only six days IN the week? Peo-
pls are asking Do the people get their money .
worth this great investment
Long ago IL was settled that it was bad business
mana cement to use this great property only five
hours day for I93 days year for ordinary school
Ing and night schools evening lectures. afternoon
nIaverounds night play centres. summer industrial
schools and vacation Fairgrounds we're established
SO that the people might not $OoO00G0 OF their
property dark and idle. far use by its owners
was concerned, six-sevenths Of the time
Now, there members OF the Board OF Educa-
ton who think that these buildings should not oe
closed to the people Sundays. any more tnan ths
parks and museums. This radical idea however,
has not been crystaIzed into any definite move
nent so far as the ordinary schoOlhOuse5 are con-
c.rned Under the leadership Of General George
w wInEate. chairman Of the comn1ittee on atm
letic fields Of the Board OF Education. however,
there Is a canvass being taken TO ascertain the
sentiment OF the members anu LLIc COliii1-5 60
large on the proposition to open four magnificent
athletic fields owned by the Department Of Educa-
ton to the public Sunday. well as TO provide
for their being used in school hours oy assigning
| one school TO each field on one day IN each year
| for a school field day
These school fields. in four different ooroughs are
large pieces OF property with field houses stands-
tracks diamonds. gridrons tennis courts and space
for ali field sports. At present they are used only
| after school hours and on Sundays Moreover az
] present few school children. except members OF
| school teams. use the fields. which cost the
| city $4,000 Even these cannot DO so between
| Q a m and s D. m except on Saturday IN schooA
| hours and on Sunday they Idle. IN spite OF the
,ac+ that every park playground and athletic field
| which is open for Sunday Is 50 crowded tnat
| manv ball teams and athletic groups cannot con-
| pete and reservations are made months In al
| vance.
Public Schools Athletic League. became impressed
| with the idea that these athletic fields might os
omen under careful restriction, Sundays Az
| anv rate he wants each school to have whole
! week day at the athletic fields. so that the chill
dren NAV gain a taste outdoor sport, which, ne
believes will be most effective IN leading them to
give care to their bodies and 10 gain the haDil
OF fuduIgfng in normal healthy amusement as q
substitute for less desirable forms OF recreation
He believes that in the pressure OF American lie
Il is essential that children reach the adut age
with sound physical equipment In fact ne IooAs
on n as an important tesideratum OF good citizen
ship He has been NdhlIlS "a cffi4' as Va ~ -N-
six members Of the board. and hnds that many OK
his contrares agree with him. Apparently, Cow
ever a trial will depend largely on public senti-
ment II public sentiment is against the pian N
spits Of the precedent that the parks and museums
are open that will end the movement
In speakng Of his plan General Wingate SAID
This must IN no sense be understood as any ue-
sire on my part to interfere with the ooserVanes
OF the Sabbath by those who attend churches ana
frowu on any form OF public recreation on this
aav Rut / do know that tens OF thousands or
Young men not only do not go to church on sun
day but actually sIend the day IN purpOseless
lounging at street corners or IN tne atIlOsphel7
NJ the corner saloon Largely they do these things
bacsusA thev have nothing better TO do Why they
do not 90 20 church is question the churches
must answer. 1 am concerned merely with tns
fact that they do not spend an orderly Sunday ana
fritter away their time without physical or mental
cot, IN surroundings morally dangerous Rather
than have these young men do as they are nov
doing | should greatly prefer TO have them out on
our athletic fields. playing ball, running, Jumping.
filing their lungs full OF clean, pure air. Instead
OF breathing in the atmosphere Of sour beer IN
the back room OF a saloon on our fields they
would be away from temptation 20 drink and
would be compelled. as price for using the neids'
to conduct their sports innocent. cleaniy fash
ion AT the end Of the day. instead Of being stAs
and unhappy. they would have the WEAKNESS OF
healthy fatigue. and their bodies would have ossa
the gamers by every breath they took into tneir
lungs and every mile they walked OF ran And
on Monday they would do their NOrk De'lsr LoE
these outings.
..Of course the people may not agree with me-
in this and theirs Is the final say, as they OWE
the fields But 1 feel that public sentiment VIII
support me. Certainly that vast number OF wealthy
taxpayers who spend their Sundays at son and
country clubs raise no objection to the exten-
sion OF the privileges OF getting out into the sun
shine on the weekly holiday workers nave from .
factory and desk and counter. Moreover. believe
that many members OF churches. and even minis
ters will support the idea, as there Is rapidly
growing among them a sentiment that on Sunday
the young man must have a chancs 70 anuse him.
self lesitinately will seek the unlimited He
ultimate opportunities which every great city AZ.
fords.'