Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-11-26
LEAGUE TO ASK CITY
FOR A PUBLIC PARK
committee to Appear Before Council
with Regard to How Water Works
Ground Should Be Set Aside.

with Regard to How Water Works
Ground Should Be Set Aside.
grum The World Of Wednesday:
The BerBeleg Civic League held an
in. erestlng meeting at the Y. NJ G. A.
binding last evening which was given
over chiefly 10 a discussion Of the play
ground movement. There was a good
representation Of the members present
and many in ersting things in con
nection with the possibility of estab-
alsning public play grounds in Mar
ainsburg were brought to light.
MI. Alex Clohan, who is. chairman Of
the committee on public parks report
ed his findings in connection with the
hand and building now owned by the
city and at one time used as the water
vorks. and more Familiarity krown as
she waterworks ground. This property
gae said could with small expense be
snasie into a city park and play ground
for the children. There is about six
acres and a good building. which with
repairs could be mad habitable. There
as d good sod on The place ard some
fine old shade trees together with
some younger ones which remain OF
severai hundred planted some years
ago by himself and the late Charles
Miller.
Mr.. Clohan haid thai the ground was
within three blocks CT the pubic
square and easily accessible, and his
plan was to have the building repair
ad and made the quarters for a care
aker, who could use part of the build
sng for the purpose Of serving refresh
znents.
There Is a pace where boating can
se made a pleasure in summer and
skating in winter. The Tuscarora flows
through the grounds and adds much
10 ne attractiveness and use CT the
k,.ace as a public park.
The grounds would need to be put
sander the protection Of the city so
mat there would be no trespassing
aand tha. police power could be given
gae carstaker in order that order
IN at be maintained.
The matter Of the use of the schoo.
yards for public play grounds and
puttiag competent persons in charge
s0f them was discussed 1t was bought
shai the Board of Education would
grant the use OF the grounds If thu
rYroper cart could be guaranteed the
grounds and buildings. II would be
available for pay grounds next sum
zner.
Mr.. Taylor. of Wheeling, who hap
yyeHed to be in The city. and who Is
much interested in the movement all
over the country OF civic societies, was
s,resent and he gave a brief history OF
~be progress made by the playground
association in The city Of Wheeling.
ne sad that the problem here was not
nearly so difficult as it was there. That
the children that he met on the street
s%aYpeared 10 be Of a much higher order
ss5l intelligence than those that he saw
-rx ne streets of Wheeling. where he
working class lived in crowded tene-
ments with no pace for outdoor ex-
Esrcise- He made some valuable sug-
gestions 10 the league.
The league finally took action in the
matter and appointed a committee CON
Sisting of Mr.. A. Clohan. Mrs. G. p.
SSrimsley, Mrs. J. II. Lyeth, PROF. Nor
o and Mr.. Max Robinson, to appear
sDefore the city counc% and request the
city. il the name of the league. to set
--fN. 41n old .Vutor urpVEg oTDpnn for
a park and play ground and TO appro-
pirate the sum of $500 toward defray-
ang the expense c, putting the prop
ertv in shape. The city viii Of course
fsolG the title and retain con'rol Of
Nsfe park,
II this request is granted the eague
4rU then devise some menas of raising
sufficient money that will be needed
and above the appropriation from
she city TO make the place one that 1t
VIII he a pleasure o visit and where
recreation and enjoyment can be found
by both young and cd
i was also ordered that a memorial
-az.s presented to the county cour ask
ing for he d'scontinuance Of hitching
40 the fine shade irees in front OF me
,ourt hous5, IN order 70 prevent their
injury.
An invitation was received 20 the
Watlonal Civic Association when
rneets in Washington next month and
,t : likely that there will be some
delegates from the local league.