The Detroit times., 1911-01-20
MONUMENTS
ID OF THE PARKS
ru. us.sss woonE-
|poit Expert Delivers Practical Ad'
~ It Opening Session Of Play
ground Institute.


&1wr In the history OF America
,&0nnthropic movements for the bet
rrnent OF her young citizens, Detroit
away behind In the movement ano
kr three days meeting OF the Cen
mI Playground institute when
&ned. Thursday afternoon. in the
ofel Cadillac, Is the first ofiicif
/~1etine OF its kind ever held IN teis
Mem and women from various parts
~ the country who have accomplish
"a something tangible In the puplc
m1nvRround cause, will be in Detroit
4 ne next two days TO pass ON inior'
4 mofion and experience, in pubic ao
dresscs. in the institute sessions. The
1nnlitute is open to the public anu
1hose interested In the movement are
nnxious that all citizens who can
nosre the time will make Ii a point
- attend one or all OF the sessions.
{}r'he three days program opened
Ihursday afternoon, with papers Dy
Charles Moore, of Detroit, on Pres
rryation OF city spaces" and T.. -.
)e7roof, general director oil nciu
hooses and Fairgrounds, in CHICAGO,
"a t"A city plan for Fairgrounds anu
nhlic recreation" Both papers were
i /cllowed by interesting discussion.
f IL. Moore's paper, which directly
1ouches a problem In Detroit. was IN
+ Dort as follows:
Dark as Is the picture which mhy
~ drawn truthfully of conditions IN
rongested districts in large cities,
1hore Is everywhere to be found 4
@<roRele to make better conditions
0f living. In Chicago the work OF me
outh Parks board in providing small
1IoyRrounds and recreation centeis
or the people OF all ages is net sur
1aeaed anywhere In Sherman Park,
*Ifuated in the midst of the packing
koune district. attractive BUILDINGS
have been constructed, which are
2odeIs of simple. charming and Ell
1octfve architecture. There the men
nd women OF the neighborhood may
@1ve entertainments, lectures, con-
1erfs. dances, etc.: only religion and
xolitics are barred. There are gym
naoiums, swimming pools, play
&>nounds. and restaurants; and sum-
4 ncr and winter the people flock 10
<hIs park, which Is typical OF many
e~fablished and maintained at the ex-
1eilse OF the taxpayers included In
lie south Parks taxing district,
<sWashington suffers today, not Tor
x@nnt OF open spaces In the city that
Enfant laid out. but because D.
- fact that no provision was mace
~ small parks In the great area that
|n6 been plated outside OF the CITY
@.oner. and which Is now rapidly
hiding up. The people OF the caot
n are alive to this lack and are. urg'
~ congress- TO provide for such ad-
Ilional parks. -.
~The same want Is felt in Detro.r.
~6re woodward used L'Erfant's
&1nn OF Washington as the basis G.
- ,-plan for this city; and he pro-
*16o6 an abundance or small PARKS
knd open spaces. although thrifty
31fy government has appropriated
Inv 81 them for library, police ami
- buildings. But in the territory
1hed To Detroit. since Judge Wood
nrI,s day. no provision has been
AZ for public parks or open spaces;
~ here. as elsewhere. the real
Nate specuIator has taken for him
of the last inch which a constantly
1reaaine disregard for comfort and
rnvenience has permitted him TO
Dpropriate. :,
<One growing use to which small
nces IN cities are being devoted, Is
M sites for statues OF men whom
~ one reason or another the public
~1es At to honor In this way. Now
1Out the most frightful form which
<nntal Is made to take Is the statue
q civilian In modern dress. Usual
the sculptor has secured the COM
lnsion at the hands OF commits
In that doesn't pretend 10 know
nch about art, but does know what
~ ukes.' and the result is shocking.
Whether good or bad, statues should
~ be allowed to usurp space In
ALI parks, to the exclusion OF chill
mem. And II community or an IN
4 lvfdual feels like honoring a de-
Harding citizen. surely a fountain Or
@6me such work of art is the most
ntiofnctory memorial So pope and
nperor found in days gone by. and
16oy their memory Is perpetuated IN
troams OF living water. flowing for
ne refreshment OF the people OF
Rome, rather than by effigies In the
uofican. When one stops to consider
F HE fountains OF Rome, one Is forced
IS the conclusion that among all the
monuments OF men, the fountain
onmes nearest 70 being eternal.
The conclusion OF the matter
would seem to be: 'First--A city can
not have too many breathing spaces
f Uocond--Such small parks AZ have
been seized upon for public buildings
becanse OF mistaken economy. should
+ ~ restored to the public. Third
Email parks should be developed 50
- TO secure the use OF them by the
4 1&rxcsf number of people,