Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-03-28
TELLS THE NEED
OF PLAYGROUND
Rev. c. W. Hanson Makes
Valuable Suggestions
Statement of Facts.
COULD START WITH $500

In line with the present move
ment for the establishment of play
grounds In this city much interesting
!. data, with valuable suggestions, Is
offered by Rev. G. w. Hanson, pas
tor of the Danish Methodist church
Of this city. Rev. Mr.. Hanson for
several years was officer of the
/ Juvenile court OF Chicago. He also
acted In the capacity of city mis-
sionary in connection with his sect
and people, and as such was made q
member OF the Board of Charity OF
the metropolis of the middle west
| Experience Of some twenty years
duration along sociological lines In
this western city, preceding his COM
ing to Perth Amboy, makes Rev Mr.
| Hanson eminently fitted to speak
authoritively upon the subject OF the
care of children. He is himself
father Of large family and has al
ways taken interest in the welfare
| of young folks.
| Was Juvenile Court Officer.
AS officer of the Juvenile court OF
the great city of Chicago Rev. Mr..
| Hanson had many opportunities to
observe the causes leading up to
| the wrong doing of the youth of q
city. One of the greatest evils In
the exerting of harmful influence
over children he found was the
streets. Many OF the toddlers
brought into the court were thieves
| purloiners OF fruit, peanuts, ETC.,
from street stands. There were
other petty crimes which were the
result of continual street habftation.
| When the playground idea came to
| Chicago the Juvenile court had
| reached maximum in the number
| of cases which it had been handling
| The playground movement found
! favor and the first year after the
establishment of Fairgrounds In
that city the number of cases which
| the Juvenile court had to handle
| fell off fully rs per cent. Chicago
/ has spent several million dollars In
/ atsv s4srssasexssssrxzt fspr zHzHs piaygruunus
ard ALL the thinking people OF tho
city regard the money as well spent
Cost Of Fairgrounds.
| Some OF the Fairgrounds. Rev
| Mr. Hanson states, cost only about
$3.50 to equip. Others ran into the
thousands Of dollars. In Chicago
there are from eight to ten play
grounds, covering several acre:
each, In the heart of-the city. These
are equipped with the best of every
thing for the amusement of the chill
dren. There are baths, tennl.
courts, baseball plots, gymnasiums
etc., on these larger Fairgrounds
In all parts of the city are smaller
grounds upon which the younger
children gather. These are fitted uI
at cost of few hundred dollars.
One plot equipped at cost o.
$3.50 was visited by 10000 children
the first year it was open. 1t wai
only small piece of ground upor
which thirty loads of sand had beer
dumped. There was small canvass
shelter to keep the sun from the
younger children. Toboggarf slides
see-saws, May poles. hammocks, etc.
we're supplied for the amusement o.
the younger ones.
Given Hearty Support.
The playground movement II
Chicago met the instant approval OF
! officials, judges, students and hu
manitarians. In one section O.
Chicago three squares OF buildings
were taken down and huge play
ground established with everything
for the amusement of the children
Once year on the different play
grounds the children gather ant
show the populance In the presence
of city officials what they have done
in the past year. There are drill!
and club swinging and other gymna
sium work Is shaMn. These fetei
are extremely popular.
Needed in Perth Amboy.
When told that the cry in Peril
Amboy is that there is not money
available for the establishing o
Fairgrounds Rev. Mr.. Hanson sait
that the cost Is nothing. A star
could be made with $500, he said
1t would fit up one plot admirably
When the city spends $500 in one
day for the Fourth of July 1t shoulC
be able to, spare $500 to start thu
Fairgrounds movement, when 1t Il
considered that its benefits woul(
reach over practically the whole
lyear.
A playground commission, Rev
Mr.. Hanson states, can find mucf
vacant land In the city which the
owners would let the city have fol
nothing for use as children's play
grounds Others would let land K
the city upon the payment of the
taxes or other small fee. The equip
ment of these plots is the least ex
pense to be contemplated.
Could Start ON Small Scale.
Starting on small scale, If tn,
(Continued on page 81