Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-02
Let Us Have a Permanent Park and
Playground.

UcCuS VI hUouStet PA~'N''S
demand the possession of a good sized
mark and playground Such a place,
with arace track, a baseball and foot
ball field, and a chance for circuses
to pitch their tents is among the i'm
perative needs of any city of the size
of Augusta AS the world grows
older men are coming more to ap-
preciate the value of the Out-of-door
rest and recreation in the building up
of health, and the prolonging of hu-
man life. AS a result our holidays
are increasing, and there is a general
tendency to spend more time Under
the blue skies and in the open air. The
world has come to appreciate more
clearly than ever before the truth of
the old adage that "all work and no
play makes Jack a dull boy" Il does
more. 1t not only robs his life of
the good times that make it worth
living, but it also provides him with
an early grave. The world gives him
a commiserating sigh-what a dismal
old grind he was.-and speedily for
gets him. Any man, who would have
sunshine in his life and attain to full
and then. He must touch elbows
with the boys. He must carry a lit.
tie Of the buoyancy of youth down the
pathway of the years. 1t is absolute
ly necessary that he should get into
the open, and enthuse, in common with
his fellows, over some form of sport,
be it a horse race, a baseball or foot
place in human life, and unfortunate
indeed is the man who has not req
corpuscles enough in his veins. to en-
Joy some form of out -Of-dOOr sport
popularity of such pastilnes is a
pretty good proof of the fact that the
number of such men is not large
The Journal has always advocated
the city ownership of the trotting
park, believing that public sentiment
was overwhelmingly in favor of it.
The matter, however, being put up as
a question of law to the city solicitor.
resulted in an opinion that if this
property were purchased by the city
for public park purposes no adr1is-
sion could ever be charged to it. AS
this would absolutely preclude its use
for athletic purposes-the use to which
the public desired that it should be
specially dedicated-the movement to
secure it in this way was Immediately
abandoned.
The public desire that this field so
admirably located for athletic uses
should be permanently used for this
purpose remained as strong as ever.
The time has now come when a de-
termined and concerted effort is be-
ing made by the lovers of out of door
sport to form stock company of citi-
zens and purchase this property for a
permanent park and playground-a
place for races. for football, baseball
and the circuses. The importance of
this movement will appear when it is
known that unless the money neces-
sary to buy this property, upon the
reasonable terms at which it is Of
fered for these purposes, is secured
during the present month of May this
beautiful park and field will be cut ur
into house lots. When one house lot
is sold off from this property it win
be lost forever to the city of Au-
eusta as recreation park 1t is i'm
perative therefore that EVERY CITI-
ZEN OF AUGUSTA TAKE HOLD
AND LIFT in the work of securing
this property. 1t is movement for
the city, and every citizen should be
identified with it to some extent be it
great or small. The park is TO be
bought through stock subscriptions,
and in taking it our citizens may
know that their principal at least
will be secure for the property will be
worth every cent of the purchase
price.