New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-01
WANT PLAY DEPARTMENT
PhiIbin Committee Would Unity
Public and Private Interests.
SLOWER MAY COOPERATE
City Commissioner Gould Set
High Playground Standard,
Workers Believe.

ground interests in greater New York VIII
be- announced soon by committee OF SIX
teen. appointed in April at the instance OK
Eugene Philbin. president OF the Parks
and Fairgrounds Association. This com
mittte. headed by Joseph NJ. Price. VIII
report that practically all public and pri-
vate recreation societies have signifed their
approval OF such a federation. and the
committee will then seek the cooperation
of Park Commissioner Slower
At the meeting called In April by Mr..
philbin representatives Of all playground
and recreation societies were present.
Among those who had been active in the
plan Of federation were Dr. Luther II.
Gulick, Gustavus T. Kirby. Everett Jansen
Wendell, Mrs. Charles II. Israels and How
ard Bradstreet. former Supervisor OF Rec
reation
The committee will recommend that Il
municipal playground department Re ere
ated. to be under the direction OF a COM
missioner Of Fairgrounds. In this 1t will
bo materially assisted by recommends
ton OF a special committee. consisting OF
Borough President McAneny and Borough
President Cromwell, appointed some time
ago by the Board of Estimate, which Is
soon 70 lay before the board a plan for a
municipal playground commission.
It will Re pointed out In the report OF
tho committee that only through federation
can New York really derive the best ad-
vantages from its Fairgrounds. At present
public and private societies overlap one an
other IN some boroughs. while others are
without playground activities.
Directly concerned with city playground
are the Board OF Education. the Park De-
partment, the Deck Department and tho
Bureau OF Baths. and such private or
CARNATIONS as the Parks and Fairgrounds
Association, the Public Schools Athletic
League. Board OF Censorship. Dance Hal
Committee. Federation OF Girls Clubs. Fed
eraticn OF Boys Clubs. Scouts brigades
and school gardens.
II will be pointed out 10 Commissioners
Slower that through cooperation he will
not only widen his field OF work. but that
whatever ideas he may have on the sub
feet can be applied 10 Fairgrounds outside
boroughs as we'll as in them. Without the
assistance OF tho Park Commissioner the
plan Of federation may fall through. but II
Is believed Mr.. Slower will be glad TO act
in cooperation.
The advantages to be secured by proper
organization. II IL pointed out, will be the
establishment OF a power OF initiative, the
creation OF a permanent policy Of action.
and the utilization Of all existing agencies.
It would mean that in the future play
ground work would not be interfered with
by politics.
While Manhattan has developed much
playground work the boroughs Of Brook
Ign, Queens. Richmond and The Bronx
have not made equal progress. Although
the Public Schools Athletic League accom-
plishes greater results than others. its
activity is confined TO certain months only.
By the federation scheme, representatives
Of that body in conjunction with Commits
sioner Slower and others. its work could
be carried on throughout the year.
II will be pointed out in the report that
federation will make it possible to give
attention to the regulation OF dance halls.
moving pictures and amusement parks, and
that through 1t dramatic and civic festl-
walls may be made of great value.
one drawback TO playground develop
ment now is the diversity of interests Of
so many separate bodies There is no gem
eral plan. The Park Department runs its
grounds in its own way: the Dock Depart
ment. which controls the recreation piers,
does the same, and the numerous public
and private societies often operate in the
same territory.
Members Of the many organizations who
are enthusiastic over the plans voiced at
the Philbin meeting believe this year viii
mark the turning point in the recreation
work Of New York, and that in the future
the federation will set standard OF excel
lence not 10 90 elualled in any other city
in the country.