The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-05-26
Mr.. 0LMSIEAD HERE
Looks Into Jocelyn Square
Public Playground
Question.
TO BE THREE THIS YEAR


Frederick Law OImstead ira Of Bos
ton, tho landscape architect stopped
of In this city yesterday on route from
New York to his home His visit here
was indirectly connected with the So
called city Beautiful" idea, His direct
object was to discuss the plans for mu-
nicipal public Fairgrounds, and ospe-
cially the Jocelyn square proposition
with representatives Of the vacation
school committee, Of which Mrs T.. J.
Atwater Is the chairman, Mr., DIM
stead arrived shortly after noon, and
was met b. Mrs, Atwater. f. II. Beede
superintendent of schools who Is very
much interested In the playground
question also met Mr.. Olmstead and the
three Immediately went to Jocelyn
square, and talked over It's possibilities
as a playground,
For several years there have been
public Fairgrounds during the vacation
In the yards OF the Iunder, Wallace
and Wooster street schools while there
have been vacation schools In the three
mentioned and also Eaton school I'M
til recently the expenses have been met
by private subscription, and the man.
agement of the schools has been In the
uhlhN VI AlAt summer bAlAAVA anu tuA
ground association. The board of edu-
cation has done all II could to help the
association, rendering them the use
of the school Fairgrounds, etc. Mr..
Beede has also aided IN an official ca
pacity, however. and 10 him has been
delegated for several seasons the APP
pointing of the teachers for the summer
work Year before last the board Of
finance appropriated $1,000 to defray
In part the seasons expenses. Last year
the board appropriated $4,000, and this
Il Is hoped will be enough to meet all
expenses. Mr. Beede has not announc-
cd his appointments for summer school
work because there's considerable un-
certainty as to the number that VIII be
required owing TO the uncertainty of
| the status quo Of the Jocelyn square
proposition. A short time ago the city
authorities gave tho vacation school
committee the right to make the down
town square into a playground.
| As soon as Mr.. olmstead. who has
given considerable study to play
| grounds, submits a report concerning
| the square. steps will be taken lmme-
| dlately Mr.. Olmstead discussed some
of the ideas he would recommend with
| Mr. Beede Yesterday To begin with
| the committee has on hand about 5000.
which will be utilized In equlpping tho
| playground Some Of this VIII be ex-
| pended for swings, see-saws, known 70
| the older generation MS tetter-totterS
etc. Mr.. olmstead also recommended
that pavilion be built In which play
ground work could be continued IN case
| of rain. etc. He also suggested that
| tho swings and apparatus he placed
| around the sides Of tho park, near the
! fence. and leaving the center Tor a
playground space Mr.. olmsteads re-
port will be submitted as soon as no
| can draw Il IN,
As IN former years, the vacation
schools will be open from . TO IL, for q
period of six weeks. one hour VIII be
devoted to manual work, rama. basket
weaving. etc. another to sewing. These
periods will not come in. regular or
! der the session commencing with Mf-
! teen or twenty minutes of singing
story telling by the teachers. etc, there ere
REGULAR period, while the last Of the
1 session Will be taken M with short
/ lesson in civics, physiology, etc.
The play ground will he open from
10 4 daily for a period OF eight
weeks. Men will probably he IN charge
of the grounds this year. radical IN
4 noVation.