Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-11-22
Board Ask $4,000
to Accomplish
The Purpose
SEC'Y REPORTS

Because they intend to make the
city's Fairgrounds more attractive, so
that practically every child in Perth
Amboy will be drawn to their inno-
cent games and amusements, the
Playground Commission in session
last night decided to ask the Board
of Aldermen to include In the budget
for next year an appropriation of $2,-
500 for the enlargement of the work.
The meeting was held In the water
department room at city hall. The
amount is $1,000 more than was ap-
propriated for the commission to use
the past season.
The members believe that with
more money they can attract Nnany
more children than last summer.
They would make the Fairgrounds
more alluring with additional recrea-
tions. They would increase the ap-
paratus, allowing more children to
enjoy the different sports at the
same time.
Report OF Secretary.
The report of, Secretary Sidney
Riddlestorffer showed that about L.
500 children participated In the
amusements at the State, King, Ne
vile and copper works grounds.
The Neville street Juvenile reserva-
tion had the largest attendance, be-
caus 1t was the only one at which
activities were prepared for both
boys and girls. The State and King
street areas were about equal for
second place; and the copper works
field was least used because ther.
was no apparatus set up there, the
grounds being used mostly for base
ball games.
The total average attendance on
the four tracts was 243 for the morn
Ing and 351 for the afternoons. On
one afternoon early in August there
were 900 youngsters playing at the
different places. The children's ages
ranged from five to eighteen years.
There were about 200 more boys
that enjoyed the pleasures than girls.
Concerning the systematic activity
Of the supervisors of the children, the
report stated that two baseball lea
CUES were conducted, with seventeen
teams participating About twenty
different field and track events were
neld every week on each Of the
grounds. A swimming meet was held
at the end of the summer. Sixteen
different athletic games were played,
and many singing games taught the
younger children. Folk dancing and
gymnastio drills were taught the
older ones.
The picnic at Boynton Beach IN
August was attended by over 700
children, and many parents. Two
parties of boys spent night camp
Ing under the supervision Of direc-
tors
The apparatus was made by local
contractors, and in such a way that
1t could be taken apart and stored for
next year. The apparatus consists of
two benches, each supporting three
teeter boards; two frames, each con-
tanning four swings; two sand boxes;
one large frame set In the ground at
Neville street playground, providing
for two teeter boards; four swings,
and an adjustable horizontal bar.
The excellent facilities of the
school building and the expansive
grounds surrounding, make the Ne
vile street playground the most adap
table The copper works grounds were
hot and unattractive, no shade trees
having been planted there. The
King and State stree Fairgrounds
were too small, and provided poor
surfaces for playing.
The Financial Report.
The financial report showed that
$1,480.95 had been spent. Approx
mately $275 of apparatus can be re-
used next summer. The equipment
cost $2S5.61; salaries to directors,
and the supervisors salary Of $375,
amounted to $1,045; incidentals and
supplies, $150.44; total, s1,4S0.95.
The report gave great credit to
Supervisor Frederick d. Eichbauer
and his corps of assistants, who by
their diligence helped to make the
innovation successful.
Before adjournment until next
spring the secretary was Instructed to
send letters of thanks to both news
papers and Woman's Club for the
liberal assistance they rendered The
members present were G. G. Baldwin,
w. H. Grlswold, w. D. Voorhees, and
Sidney Riddlestorffer,