New-York tribune., 1910-07-31
Rare Success A1fer ding
Metz Scheme 10 Break
Up the Street Gangs.

Where have New Yorks children gone
The streets, filled until recently Wlth oaii
playing leap-frogging, 'hi-ChlInmylns
boys. are now largely depopulated OF their
Youngsters and are occupied 1nsteaa py INC
streams of grown folk who pass UP anu
down on business or pleasure bent, gfateiui
for the added space and ease Of passage
since the streets are no longer the common
playground for all the kids in town
oWhere are the tots OF yesterday?
There is a movement afoot to account for
their disappearance and "a man benlno
the movement.
The man is William r. Harper, super
visor of physical training in the puohc
schools Of New York. and he suggested
that it was too bad for the city's children
to be playing in the resourceisss, unin-
vitine- streets. while the little, OR big, pafk
that had been laid out for. each neishoor-
hood lay green and useless near by. he
then received the answer that the PARKS
were there TO use, but that the people
Young and old alike, in their usual puZZins
way preferred the streets.
That is the way those folk talk VINO 40
not understand people, especially smaii
people They spread out park, put rences
around the grass, curve a few streaks OF
hot asphalt pavements through 1t art1su-
oeIlv set some benches along the paths
out in the sun and top off with hish-
walled. snapproachable fountain in the
centre. then wonder why people DO mol
flock there.
Mr. Harper is not like this. He has not
lost the curious sense of play and the
knowledge of the necessity of play prop
critics" He saw that the local parks were
unset stages.
Through his single effort he has changed
this situation entirely, and d-the result is one
of the most extraordinary for immedia te
success that the city has ever seen. His
plans were laid and tried out last year
This year they are going into operatioii'
and although they have been in force now
only since Monday. July is. the streets are
already freer from children.
The writer had an appointment 10 meet
Mr.. Harper the other day on the play
grounds of Tompkins Square Park and.
while looking at the actual results Of the
new city playground plan. 10 hear the
originator of it man1uvring the boys.
Tompkins Square begins at 10th street
and Avenue A and runs south, holding Il
large square park. tho north end Of it IS
now laid out in two separate Fairgrounds
one. for. girls and one for boys. They
have dirt courts shaded by trees, the same
as the Tuiler1es Gardens fl Paris.
Come into the boys inclcsure, said
Mr.. Harper, leading the way with hsn-
swinging stride. ''Fhe playground scheme
has been started here first. Next week
the girls will be organized on tho same
basis Do you know" he exclaimed on
Enthusiastically. Il first came through 10Th
street from the elevated and I saw hardly
a youngster on the street They are all
herei
The scheme OF tho Fairgrounds. went
on Mr.. Harper, is. briefly, this: The chill
dren of the nelghborhood have been told
that the Fairgrounds are open for their
use. Each inclosure has a dsSector OF
sports and several assistants. AS the
children come they, are encouraged TO form
themselves into clubs OF twenty-four MEM
bsrs in each. Every club appoints It's cap
tain, who represents the rest in the coun-
eli Of captains. which meets TO discuss
msttsrs onoe a-wsek. Tnv council, RO1