Evening journal., 1912-12-13
FRIDAY, DEC. Ia 1912.
SNAIL PARks ANn pLAYGRorNns.

THE lower section Of our city from Third street
bridge westward to the Dolamore Park district is
sadly IN need of public parks and Fairgrounds No
fair-mnded person will deny that statement The
upper section Of our city is handsomely endowed in
that respect; much better. natural reasons than
the southern section ever reasonably hope to be
What has failed do for the southern district
be done in fair by provided the city
officials and the people in that district meet The issue
fairly and intolligony decide in a comprehensive way
what ought to done In the public interest. and do it,
far the financial resources Of the city viii permit
it TO Dc done
Nothing practical will be accomplished if sectional
prejudice and seishness he permitted to override pub
ic interest aud rule in the deliberations Of those who
may meet officially unohically TO consider this ques-
tion Of the establishment of small parks and play
grounds If, however the conforees will meet with
firm determination TO establish the parks and play
grounds whore they needed and where they
will the needs OF the largest number of adults
and children, the final outcome of such deliberations
will not be far from what il ought to be.
general survey Of that section of the city under
discussion shows that the First Third and Tenth wards
have absolutely no parks and Fairgrounds that the
Fourth ward has small and inadequate playground
and small park the Christiana river: that the
Second ward has Eden Park in South Wilmington;
that the Eleventh ward has Deamore Park and that
the Twelfth ward has undevoloped tract OF park
land on the western boundary OF city and also
playground al Third and DUPONT streets. IL seems to
us tndJ Win SuNh showing made by general sur
vey neither the public officials nor citizens can doubt
for instant that small parks and Fairgrounds are
needed there. Neither should there be much difficulty
in reaching decision whore they are needed
most
We often have thought that it would be well for
the Ndeawake and progressive citizens in each ward
TO form civic organization to work, primarily. for
public Improvements for that ward and secondary for
general improvements for the city. We do not mean an
association made up OF persons who would use it for
partisan purposes, but made up of taxpayers
pubcans and Democrats Progressyes, Prohibitonists
and Socialisswho would stand shoulder to shoulder
aud work and fight for improvements TO which their
particular section Of the city is entitled With such
taxpayers organizations existing in all the wards as
advisory, admonitory and compulsory agencies many
things would be accomplished that now are left un-
done. Let those taxpayers in the wards remember
that organization beges power and that power begets
results
II each ward in city had taxpayers assoca-
tlon. and if those taxpayers associations were
to select delegates to form general organization to
be known the Taxpayers Alliance much more would
be accomplished by the taxpayers than is done now
Each taxpayers association could devote itself to the
needs Of its ward, while the general organiza-
tion could devote itself to the oitys general needs
With such organizations work in the municipal field
it would be but year before a different face
would be put ON the local situation The effect of
such activity would be the better education Of taxpay-
ers generally in the matter OF municipal problems
wiser action, in many instances by our city officials
much better understanding between the taxpayers
and the public officials on important public questions