Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-04-27
SELECT SITES
AT 2 SCHOOLS
Playground for Little Chill
dren at No. | and No. z
in State Street.
PERMISSION Is LIKELY
Board Wants Council to Buy
10 Acres at Old Water
Works for Park.

Public Fairgrounds for little chill
dren may be established on grounds
surrounding public schools l and 2
and the city's first general play
ground and recreation place may be
establisher in the old water works
property in the western part of the
city, according to action taken at a
special meeting of the Public Play
ground Commission yesterday after
noon 1t had originally been planned
to have Fairgrounds for little chill
dren on grounds at schools 2 and 6,
but as the latter was considered un-
desirable because there was no fence
about It, tho mmissioners decided
on grounds at school l as the next
most desirable. A motion was pass
ed recommending that the city pur-
chase about fifteen acres of high land
adjoining the old water works prop
erty, as most of that now owned is
covered with the old reservoir.
The commission met at 5:30
o'clock In city hall and conferred
with Superintendent of Schools
ShulI and School Commissioner
Fletcher. Both expressed themselves
as being heartily in favor Of play
STOuhus lOr tHlluIelL anu thty Ia
vored the school ground idea. Mr..
Shull said 1t was working admirably
in other communities.
School Teachers to Supervise.
Mr.. Fletcher said he did not think
the Booard of Education would be ad
verse to allowing two or more school
grounds to be used as public play
grounds for children during the
warm summer months. He added
that the cost would thereby be small
and he rated it far below that esti-
mated by the playground commits
| sioners. In Mr.. Fletcher's opinion a
paraphernalla consisting Of sand
| boxes, swings and teeters, costing
perhaps $3.50, would be sufficient
to equip one Of the grounds and he
| added, the COST of supervision and
care of apparatus would be small
| He maintained that girls away from
college during the summer vacation
and even some teachers would be
glad to work for little or nothing in
instructing and watching over chill
dren at play. He said some would
work without compensation for the
sake of getting experience.
Ground surrounding school 1 in
State street near Smith street, and
school In state street near Wash
ington street, was adjudged best
adapted for playground sites because
they were sufficiently large for small
children and were properly fenced
in. Ground about school in john
stone street at Barclay, was Consid-
cred very desirable but for the fact
that It is not fenced in. It's location
especially appealed because It would
accommodate children from the west
ern and northern parts OF the city.
Up to Board of Education.
Following considerable discussion
It was decided to try and secure the
grounds about schools l and 2.
Commissioner voorhees, suggested
that the board proceed without de-
lay and purchase necessary apparatus
and continue efforts to secure the
Pardee Or Parker properties. He In
tended by this, that if either of those
properties could be secured at a suf-
ficiently low amount, one or both Of
the school properties could be aban-
bonded and a large general play
ground could be established.
A motion was passed instructing
he secretary to communicate with
the council and recommend the ad-
ditlon OF about fifteen acres Of land
to The old water works property with
view to playground and public
recreation purposes. The commits
sioners seemed unanimous in the
opinion that school grounds would
be good enough for small children,
but for older ones, particularly boys,
large field would be most useful,
so that ball games, tennis and the
like could be played
The Board Of Education will meet
next Thursday night and if permis-
sion Is given for the school grounds
an order may be placed Immediately
for apparatus