Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-04-28
NEW CITY BODY
MAP OUT WORK
Playground Commission
Hold First Meeting and Bis
cuss the Local Situation.
EXPECT To GET $500
c. c. Baldwin, Is President
Tomaschoff, sec'y.--Wom-
ans Club to Help.

Working on the supposition that
they will be able to secure at least
$500 from the Board of Aldermen
for this years work, the playground
commission discussed the local situa-
tion In an initial meeting yesterday
afternoon, but took no definite ac-
ton other than to agree to meet
again next Tuesday afternoon. G. O..
Baldwin was chosen president and
Armin Tomaschoff was elected secre-
members of the commission are
Zielinski and Chris r. Lund. All
were in attendance ct the meeting
except Mr.. Lund.
Commissioner Baldwin opened the
meeting by reading the playground
act under which the local board was
organized. 1t was shown in the act
that the powers of the playground
body related to the choosing and fix
ing up OF playground sites, upon ap-
proval Of the Board of Aldermen,
who may appropriate or not appro-
pirate money on the recommendation
Of the playground body, as they may
see fit. An informal discussion of
the local situation followed.
Feel Certain Of $500.
Commissioner Reynolds was of the
impression that no very great sum of
money could be appropriated to the
playground body this year. He had
no doubt but what $500 could be Sc
cured, but by reason of the fact that
the city appropriations have been
already fixed this year, he did not
think that sums running into sever-
al thousand dollars could be expect
ed. Mr.. Reynolds said that he did
not think that the people expected
the commission to do much more
than start the ball rolling this year
He offered the suggestion that the
grounds around the several schools,
where large enough, be fitted up with
swings, see-saws, ETC., to take care
of children under twelve years of
age. During the summer months
Mr.. Reynolds showed that the small
children going to the various schools
would have nowhere to play except
In the streets. An attendant, pre-
ferably woman, should be on each
ground to take care of the tots, he
said. 1t had been suggested that the
school janitors might take care of
the children, but the impression
seemed to be that the majority of
the janitors were not adapted to the
work and might not like to take it
up anyhow during vacation time,
Suggest Public Subscriptions.
Commissioner Baldwin offered the
suggestion that owners of large
tracts of land in the city, which are
now lying idle, might give the play
ground commission the use of them
for the laying out of baseball dia-
monds. ETC., for the larger boys. He
was also Of the impression that pub
lie subscriptions might be possible in
connection with the work of the
commission should 1t prove that the
plans which the commission might
take up.
Woman's Club to Assist.
Attention was called to the
Woman's Club, by Mr.. Baldwin, as
the prime mover in the playground
movement and he suggested that
committee from this club be asked
to appear before the commission at
its next meeting, next Tuesday after
noon, at $40 O'Clock, and offer any
suggestions which they might have
as to the development of the play
ground idea in this city. The civics
and sociology committee of the Wom-
ans Club, assisted by members of
the club in general, are responsible
for the work done by that organiza-
ton.
To Visit Other Cities.
In the following week trip will
be taken to municipalities In the
upper part OF the state where the
playground Idea is prevalent. 1t is
planned to inspect the work of play
ground commissions and members
OF the Woman's Club will be asked
to accompany the commission and
offer suggestions. as might envolve
from the inspection trip. The COM
mission seems to desire to do all
possible in the fitting up of play
grounds for the ensuing warm
months. 1t feels that the mayor and
Board Of Aldermen will give their
cooperation as far as possible from
expressions which have been made
by various officials to members of
the commission.