The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-19
EAST PARK IS NOW OPEN FOR ATHLETICS Formally Opened In Presence
 of Big Crowd SEVERAL CONTESTS HELD pr. Phillips Suggestion That Play ground Be Called Recreation
 Park Meets With Hearty
 Approval of Hearers.
SEVERAL CONTESTS HELD

The new athletic playgrounds at East park were formally opened yesterday morning. The suggestion that the park in future be known as Recreation park was greeted with great applause.
 Long before the hour appointed for the opening ceremonies, crowds of happy school children, gayly bedecked in their school colors, bearing flags and banners and cheering Justify for their respective teams swarmed into the park from every quarter of the city.
 By 10 o'clock the crowd probably num- bered more than 5000. While the school children were largely in the majority, still the citizens generally were out in large numbers.
 At 1o:s0 everything was ill readiness and the immense throng was called to or der and listened to the opening address by Mir w D. Nesbitt, who acted as mas ter of ceremonies. MT. Nesbitt spoke briefly of the playground movement in the larger cities and the splendid results obtained. He was proud of the fact that Birmingham was the first of the cities of the south to inaugurate this movement, aud predicted for it great and lasting good to the boys and girls.
 Governor Unable To Come.
 In the absence of the Mayor, Alderman George H. Estes represented the city gov ernment He expressed his delight at seeing so many happy faces and eX- pressed the hope that in the near future many of the parks of the city would be Improved in like manner, thus affording to the young people ample facilities LOT wholesome exercise and recreation. MT Estes also expressed the regrets of Gov eruor Conner. who was unable to be pres ent on account of a severe cold
 W. C. Shackleford, member Of the park commission was called upon and re- sponded in a brief speech, pledging him self to see that the park should be Kept in good condition. and that Improvements be made from time to time.
 pr. J. H. Phillips superintendent or the city schools, was the next speaker He congratulated MT Nesbitt and the members of the committee upon the spien- did work accomplished and told the chil- dren that this was the beginning or d trulv great movement in our city. He suggested that hereafter the park be known as Recreation park, and ms SUB gestion was greeted with tremendous ap- plause .......
 Athletic Events.
 The athletic events were close ana eX- citing, and as the contestants appeared upon the track the enthusiasm of the chil- dren knew no bounds.
 The results were as follows:
 First grade relay race. one-sixth mile, won by Powell school; time, 5l seconos' Paul Hayne, second; Barker, third; Hen ley, fourth.
 Elementary school, 1Oo-yard dash, won by Barker; time, Il 3-5 seconds; Powell, second: Henley third; Paul Hayne, fourth.
 Senior 1OO-yard dash, won by Y. M. C. A; time, II 1-5 seconds; Y. M. c. A. also second: Birmingham High school, third; Athletic club, fourth.
 Elementary school relay race, six boys on each team distance one-half mile. won by Powell school; time, minute 52 sec onds: Paul Hayne second; Henley, third; i; Barker, fourth.
 Senior relay race, six runners on each team, distance one mile, won by Y. M. C.. A.. time. minutes 59 seconds; Athletic club, second; High school, third.
 At the conclusion of the exercises, eX- ulibitions of high jumping and pole vault ing were given by Sid Jones and c. Long of the Birmingham Athletic club.
 It is announced by MT. L. H. Prince, di- rector of physical training in the city schools. that in the near future a Public School Athletic league will be organized similar to the one in New York city, and that the events of today mark only the beginning of a general movement to be in- augurated throughout the city.