New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-23
The Joy ef-"1ee-t5o~w" Never Pelle.
Great Things Have Been Done
in the Way of Fairgrounds
for Children, and Greater
Ones Will Be Done.

III
n have an idea that the poor children
Il of Manhattan are being cheated out
Of their natural INTERCHANGEABLE right to
play-the fact that last summer there was
an aggregate attendance of nine million in
the school and park Fairgrounds Of the
city may be enlightening. It wasn't al
ways so. to be sure. for there was a time
some fourteen years ago when New York s
Only playground. It is said. was an aban-
doned cemetery. II did look then as
though there might be danger of the play
spirit dying out. So. in great alarm. men
and women who love children began to be-
stir themselves. Since then New York has
expended S15,OO0OOo for Fairgrounds.
The right for children to play was
taken up as a slogan. and to-day. as re-
suit, there are nearly three hundred park
and public school Fairgrounds in New
York and these do not include the farm
gardens. settlements and other pleasure
reservations. In these play centres games
OF all sorts are being played, including, Of
course, the great American game which
lust naturally takes the lead, besides bas-
lketban. volley ball, running, Jumping, shot
putting and relay racing for the boys, with
slides. swings rope quoits, Switchboard
and 50 on for the girls.
Farming in the heart Of New York sounds
like q fairy tale. 1t is no dream, though,
but actual fact. for I'm the school gardens
the children arc tillinE the soil according
10 the newest agricultural methods and
ireapinc the reward Of their labors in bic
iharvests IN at least one garden the crop
last summer amounted TO 5000, and the
hest Of &. is the children reap the benefit
OF It.
And the public haths-well there are
Fcores Of them which to the city child hold
quite as great fascination as tho old swim
min hole" TO the country child. On hot
DAYS there are trips by tho hospital boat
down the bay. where the ocean hreezcs fan
their flushed little faces and beach parties
and fresh air outings where the children
can play in the sand 20 their hearts con
tent, 60 wading and pick up shells at the
seashore or roam at will In the country.
Il Is an opinion hold by some that II the
child has tho natural impulse 70 play nc
will MAKE use Of t. He will, II II IS de-
veloped. II he has tools equipment. chill
dren 10 play with and a place to play
Otherwise. II nature is denied him. the boy
Criminal will result IT was Judge Zen
question Of juvenile Law breaking was
question Of child play, and 1t was Ernest
G Coulter clerk OF the Chidren's Court
who emphasized the fact so far as New
York is concerned when he said that OF tho
thirty thousand cases annually brought be-
fore the chiIdrcn's judges by far the greater
proportion Of them were for such trivial
ogences rs playing ball. cat or hockey In
the street
In no particular instance has there been
such a qI.ckculng Of interest for free play
spaces as in the Park Department, for
looking after the children has always been
q hobby OF Park Commissioner Charles B.
6toyer-ever since, in fact he did settle
Tnent work and went down TO live In RiV-
ington street among the East Side tene-
ment house children Il has been his aim 10
DO something 10 make them happy, for he
knew by experience what needs the boys
and girls with only the street for their
playground really have. lie IS to-day
called the playground pioneer Of New YORK
end every child looks on him rs a friend.
i was his plan. and It had the ranc1on
Of Mayor Gaynor. 10 divorce the work OF
the plsvar1uuds from that of the actual
business ~ the Park Department, IN or
der that the children should rot fHr'".
Sc the Bureau n recreation was started
in June 1910 with william J. I|e AZ -
head-vho hv the way. r. as ardent
lover q children nc the Commissioner
himself en- their cause IS IN good HANDS.
Mayor Gayror. too, never forgeis tha'
he himself was once a boy. and never le's
pass an opportunity Of doing the boys IN
the street Il good turn. 1t IS nard for inc
country lad with miles Of unbrokcn space
10 play bail in 10 realize what TINS sup
port means IN a big city like New orh'
On more than one occasion the Mayo I"S
supported the contention Of the BOY ]"
the street that he had a right to play
ball in some vacant lot, with the sanction
OF the owner, without being annoyed Dy
the police.
Last year the three million children VINO
played IN the park Fairgrounds cost inc
city the ridiculous sum Of niue more
than one cent for each child: for the PARK
Department had little more than $1,000 10
spend, and it, accomplishment. maiche'
against that 1f some other cities VII.
many times that amount q space an"
money 10 spend. Is instructive Accofui'f
10 Supervisor Lee. the New YORK par.
playground had treble the attendance 'f
those IN Chicago I'm spite Of the fact That
Cheago's area and expenditure were three
uiaes those Of New York.
What Is. probably the most expensive
playground IN the world is included IN
Manhattan pqI!, system. II Is in Ola
Robbery Bend. now known as Column
bus Park. The creation Of this park
wiped out orc Of the worst criminal see
Irons u New York city. II rs adjacent
70 the new civic centre and near the Guy
ran where land Is worth 100000 an acre
4 sum exceeding s25oooC would not cover
Inc total cost az tie land Oh which the
NC" playground Is located.
Another new playground recently opened
"a forkville Park u in one Of the most
crowded sections Of Harlem. IN i0lst street,
between First and Second avenues An
acre Of ground IS divided between the boys
ara girls, AMI there are seesaws, swings
s'aes and sand plies. with fine club