The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-15
PEOPLES FORUM
Purchase Richmond College Site.


Editor OF The virginian:
Sir.-Some time ago our new mayor. David
Ainslie. In public speech. outlined plan
purchase the tract OF land now occupied hS
the Richmond college and convert 1t into a
public park. He set forth the many advantages
of such park in this section OF the city and
advocated the early purchase Of the plot of
ground
This property will be vacated by the college
iugt the new college buildings now
being erected out at Northampton are COM
peted.
am not advised whether this property now
belongs to the college or whether 1t has already
been sold to some syndicate. but be that as 1t
may. just as the college moves out to
Westhampton. the present college grounds will
undoubtedly be Immediately subdivided and
sold for building sites unless the city purchases
them at once.
The need for more parks in the city OF Rich
mond has recently been made very apparent to
the citizens by the report of Rowland Haynes.
field secretary of the Playground and Recrea-
ton Association of America. Mr. Haynes at the
instance of the committee on recreation and
Fairgrounds, of this city, made a careful eT-
animation of the conditions existing in this city
and found a deplorable lack of space in which
the children of the city could amuse themselves.
This report of Mr.. Haynes has been embodied
In a petition to the city council. which petition
has for its primary object the appropriation
by the city council of $500 for the coming
year, to be expended In taking care of the
present recreation centers in the city and get
ting the most possible benefit from the present
Fairgrounds The petition has already been
approved by the grounds and buildings COM
nittee of the city council and will go before
the finance committee on the 18th inst 1t Is
+ - be hoped that the finance committee will give
1t the same favorable action as was accorded
it by the grounds and buildings committee.
Many times during the past few years the
question OF public library for the city has
| been agitated. but far nothing definite has
ever been done and with the exception of the
I Rosemary library which Is only semi-public. the
city has public library. There is of course
the State library. but this belongs to the State
! and can in no sense be termed city public
/ library
| Now what could be better movemer f"r
the city of Richmond than to purchase this
Richmond college property and convert IT int
public park, public playground for children
and public library combined. There Is ample
room there for all three.
How can this be done? There would be YER,
little expense incurred beyond the price paid for
the property. The building known as Rylane
hall 10 now being used by the college as
library and lecture hall This building coult
very easily and at very small cost be COR
verified into a library building. and II not largt
enough as 1t stands at present. an addition
could be put on the rear of the building
This college property Is the only avail arls
property south of the Boulevard of suficien
size for a good city park and II this property II
have to purchase property beyond the Boule
ward for park purposes. for parks we must have
No better location for park could be secured
) than this one for 1t would be conveniently 10
Gated to all that part of the city lying west o
Belvidere street, and even east of this street
good many citizens may oppose the pur
|
are other portions of the city where the neet
of recreation space is more imperative Thi
need in other portions of the city Is very I'm
perative ii Is true, but the city should prom
ty experience and purchase the property II
question now without waiting until there IS
congested condition in this western section %
the city, as there Will be, unless pr oviso,
Is made to, take OF the rapidly incre 's'nl
t number Of children. All of will agree .ha
the western section of the city is building vi
more rapidly than any other section and nearI.
all of this building activity is for residential
purposes This will bring larger and large
number Of children into this locality and play
grounds and recreation centers must be pro
vided for them
Just to show what an admirable investmen
the purchase of this property would be for III
city OF Richmond, going TO give brief.
] some OF the many things things that could b
, accomplished if tho property belonged to tn
city.
They are:
0 A park
A public library.
playground for children OF all ages tn
s younger children could use that portion OF tn
property lying between Grace and FRANKLIN
streets. while the older boys and girls coul
y the portion between Grace and Broa'
t An athletic neid for boys. There is already
- baseball diamond on this property well a
a running track. 1t is true that the city nov
4 has a large athletic field out at Byrd park b,,
the older feliows this almost entirely. leav
ing the younger boys only the vacant lots y
Q which to enjoy themselves This property wou
make admirable centrally located field 70
these younger boys.
= A recreation ground for girls. There ar
=. now several tennis courts this property. -
well space for basketball and other athleti
. games that the girls enjoy.
A new high school building. Tho city
growing go rapidly that In the very futur
there will be the need for 4 new high schoo
. building out In the West End section. Their
would be amply room this property for sucl
4 building and what would bring moro %
| to the boys hearts than to have large nel
right at their school building where thsy coul
play football. baseball. etc. during the reces
: hour and after school.
There are many other advantages that nigh
2 be mentioned. but will not burden my reader
by enumerating them.
l earnestly wish that some of the many publ.
spirited citizens would get behind the .nove
inert for the acquisition OF this college prop
erty and carry It to completion. The mayor ~
Q started It: now you public spirited citizens TAX
hold OF II and push II through
II all through this article have pressed to
str ngly the needs Of the boys OF the city 70
more recreation space. there is only one wa
that can excuse myself and that 10 to "a
that I am only a boy myself and know too we
from my own experience how badly we nee
more space
THOS. d. NEAL. III.
Richmond, Va, December IL. 1914.
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