The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-22
A PLACE To PLAY
DIR. Eva Harding Donates Play
ground to Topeka.
Eight Beautiful Acres Situated
ON South Kansas Avenue.
FIRE DRILL WORKS.
Four Hundred Children Ellie Out
of Lincoln School.
Other Items of Interest From
City Building.


The first real practical move on the
part of the citizens of Topeka to es-
tabnsh in this city a system of play
grounds for children was taken by DR..
Eva Harding, one of Topeka's fore
most philanthropists. today when she
delivered to the city council through
Mayor Green the deeds and complete
rights to eight acres of ground on Kan
sas avenue between Eighteenth and
Twentieth streets to be used exclusive
ly as a playground of the children of
Topeka.
This is the SECOND park for children
that DIR. Harding has given to the city
Of Topeka-the first being small piece
of ground at the corner of Sixth and
Washburn avenues which is now called
"Cbildren's park and was dedicated
| to the small boys and girls In this part
of the city who wish a gathering place
| for outdoor sports and exercises.
| The piece of land turned over to the
| city today by DR.. Harding Is practl-
| cally a city park and is larger than
some of the Topeka city parks. 1t in
/ cludes "a lots along Kansas avenue
rear Shunganunga creek where the city
made a new creekbed and cleared OH
the land. 1t is practically all wooded
1 and the drainage and shade is espec-
i tally adapted to the purpose TOT winch
| the park has been donated.
| 1--WE will commence and improve the
| grounds al once said DIR. Harding
| This morning 1.-THE Play Ground as
ISOLATION and the park poaro OF .ns
| city will cooperate and make this park
| into one OF the prettiest places in To-
peka Furthermore 1t will be safe
and healthy place for child gatherings
| and outdoor sports of all kinds"
| Started by DIR. Harding.
| The play. ground movement was
started in Topeka about year ago
\ xr,Io orIi
self to give to the children of Topeka
| the advantages given to the children
in the eastern cities. In New York
city where the children are crowded
| in the tenement houses the CITY has
| plated out magnificent grounds where
they can go and romp around to their
| hearts content. Here they were in
| the open air in refined surroundings
and under judicious supervision giving
free vent to the superabundant
vitality of childhood of health and
strength for the future.
| The playground movement has
done wonders in other cities in the
United States and it is thought that it
ports read during the various ses-
sions of the congress proved con-
clusively that the--playground move
ment was accomplishing all its pro-
motors had hoped for. It was shown
by actual court records that the per-
lcentage of juvenile delinquency had de-
| creased in a notable degree in dis
| tricts where public Fairgrounds were
| in operation.
| The Topeka association will make
many improvements on the grounds
| just donated by DR.. Harding. There
will be sand piles where the children
can dig wells. built forts and make
"pfes.'' Then there are swings of
various kinds the most popular of all
| the Flying Dutchman" and ham
mocks where small babies can take
long and delicious maps. There are
| see-saws and slides. Teachers will
| be there to teach dancing and
calisthenicS.
| A complete outfit of gymnastic
| apparatus together with instructors,
| ropes flying rings, bars and vaulting
horses for the boys-where they may
show off their powers to their fair
| girlish sWeethearts. Everything that