The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-23

From the Sprlngneld lMaSS.) OHiOH'
 How to keep public parks beautiful
 and how to rid them of abuses that de-
 feat that purpose, are two of the most serious problems that cities have to reckon with. The first question is how to prevent their decadence in respect to physical apeparance: and the next thing is to maintain good order and conserve their usefulness to the general public. If any American city has yet solved these problems to it's own satisfaction 1t would be interesting to know 1t. It certainly has not been done in the larger cities of our country New York's parks are in a wretched state This Is true especially of the smaller parks and downtown squares William M. Twins recently char acterized Madison square at night as a "Dore delineation of Dante's Inferno" adding that the park has become unsafe for children and respectable women by night or day. The same conditions are found to obtain in Washington square,
 Bryant park, Battery park and many other small parks. The condition of such famous side show places as central
 park, Morningside, park, Riverside park and Mt Morris park is far from satis- factory The trouble Is attributed in part to lack of harmony in the park depart ment and poor discipline of the laborlng force, but primarily the difficulties run deeper dIQ lnNOiNC of park policy.
 First, the question arises whether city parks, and the smaller ones especially, should serve the purpose of public play grounds as we'll. It seems desirable that open spaces maintained by the city should possess something of the beautiful. Not little of the relief such places aHord Is due to their being different from the eli Of tho Citv. The lmdgl- | nation is moved by natural park With green grass and graceful trees, revealed | to the gaze as one turns the corner or a l street and contrasting sharply with the l asphalt or concrete walks that surround l it and the brick and stone buildings all | about which radiate heat on a not day. | One thing we like about the park or square is that it looks cool, and the cool
 appearance is very greatly enhanced by
 the fresh green of grass and foliage If | the grass has become withered and
 brown the park loses much or It's at- traction even as roam afield in August
 fails to yield the delights that come from | such ramble in June, when the grass
 is green and tender, and the trees have
 but recently come into full leaf. But now shall we conserve the beauty of the
 parks without robbing them of their util- ity? Some contend that, the function | these places serve as popular play grounds is so important that the other
 aspect of the subject does not deserve to be considered. Park Commissioner Charles B. Stover of New York city. who | was appointed to his office last year by Mayor Gaynor, is one of the officials who is wrestling with the problem. MT Stover is president of the park board
 and has particular charge of the parks | in Manhattan and Richmond boroughs | He recently related conversation that occurred between him and Gutzon Bor- glum, the sculptor, as these two, In con- | pany with the superintendent of public playgrounds, were passing through some of the downtown squares. MT. Borglum said to me, I am convinced that you
 must give up your effort to preserve the
 least semblance of park beauty in any
 of these small parks. The fact that the | people have taken them to themselves | show that their true function IS that ol l playgrounds and not parks. l told nm | that 1 differed with him and that all
 these small squares should meet the charter provision of joint beauty and | utility That has been my policy ever | since, and l have not given up the hope
 that all these parks can be restored.
 1 One of the greatest drawbacks or the l smaller parks, in respect to appearance l safety of women and children and the general comfort and enjoyment or Vis- | itors to these breathing places, Is the l we'll night invariable presence or tramps | loafers and a generally rough and disor- derly element frequently monopolizine
 the seats. A reporter for New norh newspaper passed a night in Madison
 square some time ago to observe wha' | went on.. ''The night was raw and chilly" he said, mot such a night as would bring the denizens Of the dehs
 along the East river, who are said to make the park their drinking ground | But the scenes witnessed even on tnis
 night were enough. Drunken women lay | on the benches. Bottles were passed
 onenlv. Ribald songs arose. Scuffline
 and fighting between both men and women were seen" An investigation of mark conditions conducted at the instance | of Commission of Accounts tosdick | brought out the fact that similar abuses
 obtain in practically every downtown ! sq,iare in New York, that the seats were 1 infested with vermin and that the com fort stations were in a deplorable state Sooner or later the park departments of | our cities will be compelled to draw the line firmly between proper and improper uses of parks, and habitual loafers will be asked to pass and leave the parks | for those who will enjoy them in prop CT manner. The parks are democratic institution. but the principle of personal
 
 use of these places. so essential to the enjoyment and relaxation of the masses
 Yet the enforcement of such a reform
 undoubtedly presents difficulties.
 } Aside from the troubles experienced il having the grass injured and practically
 eliminated in many portions of the parks
 by the tramping of many feet. and ir : having the park privileges abused by al
 undesirable element, there is the further |
 as a father of a family or a doctor would The child may be restored to his famil;
 or sent to q special correctional establish ment. Appeals may be made before spe ca higher Jurisdiction. The magistrate
 retains the right to modify his decision subsequently according to the conduct O
 the delinquent. He may ,infIict fine anc imprisonment on parents who by negli gence or otherwise are responsible for thu bad conduct of their children. Thi, scheme met with the full approval of th' I~cn~rasA and was vntaff ,'nanis".s''alv.