Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-01-21
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS
Playground Up for Discussion.


In the call for the annual village meet
ing next Monday evening is an article
relating to the procurement Of a play
ground for the benefit of the younger
generation. At the annual meeting of
the Bellows Falls board of trade two
years ago the need of the village i'm this
respect was discussed and an appropria-
ton of $25 made to pay the expense of
hiring such playground during that
season. At the annual meeting of the
board of trade in the spring of 1909 the
subject was discussed again and the feel
ing generally was expressed that the need
of playground facilities was permanent
and that it was unwise TO pay annual
rentals upon undesirable property. \
committee was chosen at the time to
take the whole matter into consideration
and see if it was not possible for the
village to acquire land for a permanent
playground to which it might hold perma-
nent title and upon which any money
expended in Improvement would be to
the permanent advantage Of the village.
rms committee consisted of G. w. Os-
good. l.. ). Hayes ana DR.. a. l.. Miner.
The committee have spent considerable
time in investigating the subject, and at
the semi-annaul meeting of the board of
trade last fall they reported favorable
to a more thorough investigation of the
advantages offered in tract of So acres
of woodland lying west Of and including,
what Is known as the Williams orchard"
near Kings field. The board of trade
at that time appropriated $25 to pay the
expense of expert examination of the land
looking toward its availability for perma-
nent playground and public park pur-
poses, as well as the probable expense Of
regarding the Williams orchard section
for the necessary athletic fields. This has
been done ana the committee at the an
nual meeting of the village will make
fNgrV 4
the voters that they may be able to
decide what they wish to do
There is little question but that this
tract of land is the last available one
which can be used in the future for
playground and public park purposes
which is located simultaneously enough
to be of material benefit to future gem
erations, and it would seem to he desirable
that it be acquired.
1t is understood that the present owners
of the property the estate Of the late
James H. Williams are ready-to make
exceedingly advantageous terms in regard
to selling it to the village if it is to be
used for public purposes They will at
least make price much below what the
present commercial value Of the land and
| of the timber thereon, including the we'll
known and desirable cold spring located
at the upper edge Of the orchard. For
this spring alone representatives. of the
estate have been offered $500 within the
last few years and have declined 1t.
During the past five years there has
been a great tendency in all localities
toward approaching the need and advan-
tages Of every large village and city hay
ing Fairgrounds and outing places for
the public that shall be controlled by the
citizens themselves. and large appropria-
tons and benefactons have been made
by hundreds Of municipalities for this
purpose. The public playground principle
has grown rapidly in public favor Dur
ing the past few months Greenfield Mass.
has bought a similar tract of land, paying
| SIG, 900 therefor. and many other in
stances at greater distances might be
cited. The subject is an important one
and should be discussed thorouehlv and
understood by every citizen of Bellows
| Falls.