New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-10
EAvORS AID IN HOMES ATHLETICS IN THE SKY
New Bronx Y. M. c. A. VIII
Have Field on Roof.
COST TO EXCEED S360,0O0
Building Will Embody Many
Novel Features for Conven-
fence of Club Members.

What is expected 20 be the finest clup
building in The Bronx Will be put up Al
Washington avenue and l6oth street by
tho Union branch OF tho Young Mems
Christian Association. which now ma us
headquarters at No $40 East lrth street.
Preliminary plans were under way yes
t..rdav. and Charles +. Fought me sec
rctarv. said the work would he pushed
forward without delay. Tie Union IS tho
only branch ~ the association IN the
borough. II outgrew its present home
several years ago.
The most novel feature OF the new
structure will be- its blue sky athletic
field. which IS 10 De on tho roof Al
though the new site f. a large plot with
Il frontage of rs feet ia l5oth street. az
feet In l6lst street and 90 feet IN WASH
ingion avenue. the building. according 10
plans that have been submitted 10 the
secretary. will cover every square foot
Of the ground. As the branch must nav"
an athletic field. the architects thoughts
turned 10 the roof. The Union branch
Therefore. j. likely 10 be- the only organ
ization in the world with a bicycle track,
a cinder path Tor runners. tennis ana
handball courts. horizontal and parallel
bars. flying rings and trapezcs ana KIN
drcd appliances IN the clouds.
A. planned. the tracks will run around
u long oval. with the tennis and hand
all courts in the centre. The handhal
courts are To be- movable, 50 that NOR"
room may be made for other athletics
when necessary. \ space 20 feet By ~
has been allotted To the courts. I'm the
winter the whole athletic field inside the
oval can bee flooded and frozen for lee
skating aud for an outdoor hockey rink.
High wire screens Will surround the field,
TO prevent the baseballs. footballs. tennis
balls and handballs from falling To the
street. Elastic steel supports viii under
lie the field. so that the contraction and
expansion attendant Oh the freezing ard
thawing Of the ice rink may not crack
the parapet or cause other damage.
Other novelties that are expected 10 be
attractive are "A rifle range and separate
swimming pools for men and boys. The
latter feature will permit the younger
members to do all the skylarking they
like ia the water without interfering
with tho more serious aquatic sports of
the elder men. There is TO be Il large
auditorium. Two floors Will be given
over to dormitorics. with accomInoda-
tions for l06 men.
At first the building will be five stories
high, but il is 10 he laid out IN such
way that floors can DO added without
hating any Of the activities except those
OF the open-air athletic field. AS there
will be a big gymnasium on one of the
lower floors. the athletes Will be able to
keen their muscles in condition while
the roof field is being pushed nearer the
sky.
Stiu another exclusive feature of the
Unions new home will be It's school FOR
piano makers. Manufacture of pianos -
one of the important Industries or the
Bronx, there being about hundred rae
tories i'm the borough. Seeing III thdt
fact an excellent opportunity for tho
material prosperity Of its members VINO
are inclined to be artisans. the Young
Mems Christian Association branch has
decided to establish a piano making class
i'm it's new building. big corner room
will be devoted to the class, with equip
ment for the manufacture OF every part
of a piano from an ivory key to sound
ing board The class will build COM
plete instrument every semester.
\ room that is far from being the least
important I'm the eyes Of the members
is TO be dining hall with space for TWO
hundred persons. 900, ooo -.
The new building will cost s3bO,QoO IN
addition to the price which the Union
branch expects To yet Tor us present
home The importance of having me
Structure is imperative, as the branch
appeals 10 the interests Of Young men
and bows in a community OF 100000 per-