The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-25

magnificent school buildings, of which
it can be justly proud. The John
Marshall High school is noted all over
the State, just as the work OF VIZ
slnia in It's high schools in the last
i,ve years has been remarked with ia
vor all over the country. In the same
way, many of kichmonds grammar
school buildings are timely appointed.
But, like most modern school build
ings. they are spread out over a large
territory, taking practically all OF the
city lot.
Parks Not Adapted.
For Instance. the line new bellevue
school takes UP practically ali vi the
lot except the high banks behind the
school. where play is impossible. the
actual play space left with this fine
new building is about one-eighth Of
an acre. -.-.-g.-...
THE same is true of the park sys-
tenn. Richmond has many notable
squares of great historic interest. and
yet they are not adapted Tor play
purposes. William Byrd park ls used
aanaira bly,, hui. of course, reaches
only a few OF the cnildren of the
city tisinfboraso park Is aased sestse-
W hat by the children OF nelgnooflhg
schools, but not u amy great extent.
No Recreation For $4,000.
Finally, the need arises from the
fact that there are at least Io,ove
children and young people IN Rleh-
mond who cannot get adequate recfs~
alton at home. This number Is not
guess, but is IA careful estimate BASED
on the school census anu on the ac-
tuaI surveys OF play conditions an dli-
ferent parts OF the city Twenty Ave
~ Nil Il a
then, in Richmond must get their
recreation largely. either from pfivate
institutions. like churches ana similar
philanthropic bodies. or from COM
mercial institutions like Fairgrounds
and recreation ceffters.
In a nutshell, the need in Rich
moiaa- is twofaia,-Eir is the need
to use the present property of the
city TO the limit of its capacity. Sec
ond, Is the need to acquire more prop
erty for play purposes,
First Need Is Met.
The plan presented by the COM
mittee on recreation and Fairgrounds
for 81. 500 for supervision. care-taking,
equipment and supplies meets the iirst
OF these needs, namely. the need Oh
using the present property OF the city
to the limit. Ii does not attempt 10
meet the SttoHu Heeu, haHtefSs Ae'
more property around school builds
ings and elsewhere. That second need
must not be forgotten and will have to
be attended to In due time.
Nor will the expenditure OF $500
meet the needs of all the whole of
the 5000 children and young people
in Richmond who require some such
help, but 1t will make an appreciate
impression on the problem.
Now Acquire Land.
This appropriation Is unlike that
asked for, as, / am informed. four
or 1--WE years ago, calling for an APP
preparation OF $1,000. If / am cor
rectly informed. that previous appro-
priation, while Of practically the same
amount as this. was to be spent, $4,000
OF II at least for land. proposition
which fell through ON account of the
inability of the city TO get definite
piece of property which II had In
mind. In other words. that former
proposition allowed only about $4,000
for supervision and equipment.
Because this present proposition
calls for $500 to be spent on super
vision, equipment, eaFe-taking, etc on
land already owned by the city. l be-
lieve that 1t will 60 a long way to-
ward meeting the first need shown by
the recreation survey. The matter OF
meeting the second need In acquiring
more land involves q long and tedious
process. That is not touched by this
present plan, but other plans to meet
that second need will doubtless be
brought forward in due time.