New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-12
FIGHT FOR PLAYGROUND
Education Board Opposes Plan
for JoneS'S Wood.
WANTED FOR A DEPOSITORY
Specifications Ready of Build,
ing to Hold All Supplies
for City Schools.

Despite the fact that he has met mat
footed opposition in suggesting to mem
bers OF the Board OF Education that the
site on which the board plans TO erec'
a depository for school supplies should
be used as a playground Instead, ParF
Commissioner Slower said yesterday ht
believed the city could provide a site
elsewhere for the depository, and hOpe'
it would do so.
The mere fact that plans for the DE
pository have been completed is not, the
Commissioner said. sufficient reason fol
abandoning the property for that purpose
What are plans compared TO leaving TINS
site i'm perpetulty for the beneht OF th'
people," the Commissioner asked.
The site is plot of ground 600 by %
feet in extent. and is bounded by FRS
and Second avenues and 9th and botf
streets In that neighborhood, the Com
missioner declared there was urgent neet
for playground.
And there is another reason, In my
opinion" he added, why IL should no
be given up TO school depository, ant
that is an historical one. 1t is part o.
Joness Wood. once decided on as I'M
great central park OF the city. II was
however given up for the present Contra
Park. For a long time. though. 1t was
like a horse race. friends of both sides
being on even terms, but eventually
Jones's Wood was abandoned for thu
central location"
The Commissioner said the plot was on'
which would make an exceptional play
ground. while he believed ii would b'
possible for the Sinking Fund Commits
sion to find In another part of the city
site for the depository.
1T adioins some property owned by the
Schermerhorn family ne declared
Perhaps the estate could be- prevailed
on to add the adjoining piece of proper
~ to the city's. and then il would make
magnificent play centre
At recent meeting Of the Board oi
Education. Nicholas J. Barrett. chairman
of the committee on supplies. told the
board OF the attempt to wrest from IL the
piece OF land on which IL H. planned Il
erect the $4,000 depository A petition OF
eleven hundred residents In the neighbour.
hood had no effect on the board. and II
was decided to 90 ahead with the plans
and when the funds were available, tt
erect the structure.
The ground. IL Is said. was purchased
six years ago by the city On the solicita.
ton of Patrick f. McGovan Of the Board
OF Education
Some weeks ago there suddenly dcvel'
opcd a fun grown demand from people ~
the neghbOrhood for a play centre there
and members Of the Board ~ Education
Immediately got anxious about No. Th'
petition. It h. understood. went 10 th,
Mayor also. Commissioner Stoyer. AZ q
meeting held by the noishborhood com
mittecs working FOR the playground. an
nounccd himself decidedly In favor OF the
project lie told YESTERDAY Of his unsuc-
cessful Attempts 10 interest members OF
the Board of Education In the playground
phase OF the matter.
The Board OF Education has been trying
FOR a number Of years 10 get a depository
FOR the supplies OF the Department OF
Education are stored around In a number
OF structures. Some OF those VINO are
hopeful OF getting playground there I'M
stead II the depository are anxious that
the Board Of Estimate hold up the plans
when they are submitted.