New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-07
MORE BUILDINGS IN PARKS
Playground PaviIionS To Be Good
for Winter as Well.
SLOWER TO SPEND $4,000
Commissioner Announces New
Steps to Bring Centres Up to
Highest Standard.

The sum Of $4,000 will he spent by Park
| Commissioner Slower in the erection OF new
play ground buildings in Manhattan In the
near future. In making this announcement
yesterday the Commissioner said it was
Only one phase of the work 10 bring the
Fairgrounds of the city up to the highest
standard.
Tie two other phases mentioned by Mr.
Slower were the conversion of n number Of
the present playground buildings, available
OF ly for summer use. into structures that
could he used in winter as well. and. lastly.
the development Of the use Of play centres
so they could he available all the year
round. in the daytime or at night.
Among the sites already decided on for
the new model structures are the grounds
at Mulberry Bend. 59th street and Amster-
dam avenue. 101st street and Second ave
rue. Colonial Park and l55th street and
Amsterdam avenue. The buildings will cost
an average OF $4,000 each.
1t is impossible TO erect cheap buildings
on the city Fairgrounds" Commissioner
Slower said. Il thought at first that by
erecting buildings at a reasonable price the
money available could be spread over more
territory. but the building laws obviatcd
that The same park structure that in
many cities is looked upon as filing the
bill I'm every way is impossible In New
York. Thus. economy in the matter Of
building these structures has had 10 take a
back seat,
At the present time Commissioner Slower
pointed out. there IS only one park pavilion
at Hamilton Fish Park-which can he
used in the winter or in inclement weather.
The park pavilions generally have been
constructed 10 meet the demands of sum-
mer solely" added Mr. Slower, and in their
present state do not supply any winter
needs
II is with the view e. making these pa
vilions tenable during the winter that the
Commissioner has been comforting with the
Park Department architect a to the most
economical wav To do so These pavilions
are at Corlaars Hook De Witt Clinton. Null
berry Bend. Seward and Thomas jefferson
parks.
( In regard 20 the policy 10 open play
ground buildings at night. Commissioner
Slower said that since the Gracey mansion
in Carl Schurz Park was opened two weeks
ago. to provide a clubhouse for working
girls organizations. 20 meet aud hold en-
tcrtainments on Monday and Thursday
nights. il had been shown that there would
he large number of attendants every
night if the building was open.
SO. after talking over the matter with
Nj. Bradstrect, tho supervisor Of recrea-
ton" continued AIR. Slower. - have
deemed il best 70 open Gracey mansion
every nigh, for club meetings a building
i'm Highbrdge Park has been repaired and
opened for young men. In the future per
mits will be granted for Gracey mansion
every night i'm the week to clubs. including
both sexes or separate societies. At High
/ bridge Park we want clubs Of inen-gan2s,
| II such Il meeting place appeals 10 them.
Gangs will do less harm when they can
/ have a comfortable meeting place
! The Board of Estimate appropriated S25o.-
ono last year for the development of the
! citys play centres. Although the money
vas available in the latter part Of the sum
mer. no effort was made TO begin the work
! OF improving the old grounds or establish
Ing now ones as Commissioner Stovor want
cd time i'm which TO decide on the nature of
the alterations. I'M the mean time. Howard
| Bradstreft visited Chicago. Detroit and a
number Of other cities 10 study their plav-
ground systems When the plans decided
on have peen carried out. New York's play
grounds will be second to none i'm this coun-
try, it is said.